cyclone update: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Oct 22: As Cyclone ‘Dana’ approaches, the Odisha government has issued an advisory prompting tourists and devotees to leave the pilgrim town of Puri. On Tuesday, long queues formed at the bus stand and Puri railway station as visitors hurriedly packed their bags to depart.
Reports have surfaced of travel agents inflating prices, taking advantage of the situation. One tourist expressed frustration, stating, “The travel agencies are now demanding excess fare and taking advantage of the crisis situation, which is unacceptable.” Another devotee of Lord Jagannath voiced disappointment over such behavior in a religious setting.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, after a review meeting, urged tourists to vacate Puri promptly, highlighting the potential impact of the severe cyclonic storm. He also instructed hotels and lodges not to accept advance bookings for the next four days. The Puri administration has been tasked with discouraging tourist visits until after the cyclone passes.
In preparation, additional patrols and lifeguards have been deployed at Puri beach, where red flags are now flying. Puri, along with Khurda, Dhenkanal, Angul, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj, is expected to experience wind speeds of 60 to 90 km/h, with gusts up to 100 km/h, as the depression intensifies into a cyclonic storm over the Northwest Bay of Bengal. The cyclone is projected to cross the north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island during the night of October 24 and the morning of October 25. Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore, and Bhadrak districts are anticipated to experience the maximum impact of the storm.
