cyclone: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Oct 21: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the potential Cyclone ‘Dana’ is expected to make landfall along the Odisha-Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island on October 24-25. It is predicted to develop into a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds ranging from 100 to 110 km/h, gusting up to 120 km/h.
In a special bulletin issued on Monday, the IMD noted that the low-pressure area over the East Central Bay of Bengal and adjoining North Andaman Sea has moved west-northwest and is now classified as a well-marked low-pressure area. The system is anticipated to strengthen into a depression by the morning of October 22 and evolve into a cyclonic storm by October 23 over the East Central Bay of Bengal.
Following this, the storm is likely to move northwestward, reaching the northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha-West Bengal coasts by the morning of October 24. Continuing on its path, it is expected to cross the northern Odisha and West Bengal coasts late on October 24 into the early hours of October 25.
The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall across most regions in Odisha on October 23, with heavy rainfall expected in isolated areas. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is anticipated in several locations, with extremely heavy downpours possible in isolated areas on October 24-25.
