Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], October 23 : Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi chaired a meeting in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday to review the state's preparedness for 'Cyclone Dana'.
The meeting was held in the presence of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.
Meanwhile, Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling stated on Wednesday that the Health Department is on high alert in response to Cyclone Dana, which is forecast to make landfall on October 24-25 along the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha.
He noted that directions and instructions have been issued to all CDMOs and that Chief Minister Majhi is personally monitoring the situation.
"The Health Department is on alert. Directions have been given to all CDMOs, and their leave has been cancelled. Measures have also been put in place to address issues related to snake venom. The Chief Minister is personally overseeing the situation," he said.
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged people to remain vigilant. In a video message, he highlighted the state's strong disaster management policy, which he said would help mitigate the cyclone's impact.
"Please remain alert, prioritise your safety, and cooperate fully with the administration. Do not panic. We have successfully faced several cyclones together in the past. Our effective disaster management policy will help us mitigate the impact. I urge all elected representatives to stand by the people during this challenging time and provide assistance. I firmly believe that, together, we will overcome this cyclone as we have done in the past," he said.
Speaking to ANI about Cyclone Dana, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) DIG Mohsen Shahidi said that teams are focusing on maximum evacuation before the cyclone makes landfall tomorrow.
"Twenty teams have been deployed in Odisha, 13 in West Bengal, with four teams kept in reserve. Preparations have been made in Andhra Pradesh's Vizag. We expect maximum evacuation to be completed today, ahead of the cyclone's landfall tomorrow," he said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) provided additional information about Cyclone Dana on X, stating that the storm is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the northwest Bay of Bengal. It is expected to cross the northern Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island, close to Bhitarkanika-Dhamra (Odisha), during the night of October 24 to the morning of October 25, 2024, with wind speeds of 100-110 km/h, gusting up to 120 km/h.
In preparation for Cyclone Dana, NDRF teams in Odisha are on standby. Additionally, rescue and relief teams from the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard, along with ships and aircraft, have been placed on high alert.