Cyclone Dana Set to Make Landfall: Odisha Ports Issue Highest Danger Alert

Cyclone Dana is poised to make landfall early Friday, prompting three major ports in Odisha—Paradip, Dhamra, and Gopalpur—to hoist Signal 10, the highest danger alert. With wind speeds anticipated to reach up to 120 kilometers per hour (kmph), the cyclone is expected to hit the coast between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Heavy rains began battering coastal districts on Thursday morning, heightening concerns among residents. Paradip recorded 51mm of rain on Wednesday night, while Chadbali saw 39mm. According to Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, "Great Danger Signal 10 has been issued at Dhamra, Paradip, and Gopalpur ports, with Signal 8 in effect at Gopalpur."

Signal 10 indicates that severe weather with wind speeds exceeding 89 kmph is imminent, while Signal 8 warns of winds between 63-87 kmph. In anticipation of the cyclone, port operations at Paradip and Dhamra have been suspended.

The IMD forecasts high tides of 0.5 to 2 meters during Cyclone Dana's landfall. Dhamra is expected to be the hardest hit, lying directly in the path of the storm's eye. Odisha's Higher Education Minister, Suryabanshi Suraj, stated, "The eye of Cyclone Dana will pass through Dhamra, placing the entire area in the danger zone. Evacuations are underway, and port authorities are taking all possible measures to mitigate the cyclone's impact." He added that he plans to spend the night in Dhamra to oversee preparations.

In a special bulletin released Thursday morning, the IMD confirmed that Cyclone Dana had intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the central and northwestern Bay of Bengal, moving at 15 kmph. By 2:30 PM, the cyclone was located approximately 280 km southeast of Paradip, 310 km south-southeast of Dhamra, and 370 km south-southeast of Sagar Island (West Bengal). The cyclone is predicted to move northwest, making landfall between Puri and Sagar Island near Bhitarkanika and Dhamra late Thursday night or early Friday morning, with wind speeds ranging from 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph.