About a million people were evacuated from parts of India’s eastern coast on Thursday as Tropical Cyclone Dana approached, prompting the shutdown of airports, schools, and train services. The storm raised flooding and landslide risks in some of the country’s poorest communities.
Dana was moving northwest across the Bay of Bengal towards the state of Odisha with winds reaching approximately 75 miles per hour, equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane, according to the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The cyclone was forecast to make landfall along Odisha’s coast overnight.
Odisha’s minister of revenue and disaster management, Suresh Pujari, reported that a million residents in the state were being relocated to over 5,000 camps established by the government. The neighboring state of West Bengal also began evacuating residents, as reported by local media.
The approaching cyclone has raised concerns of widespread destruction, reminiscent of the catastrophic cyclone in 1999 that resulted in nearly 10,000 fatalities, primarily in Odisha. Many residents in this impoverished state reside in low-lying coastal areas in makeshift homes.
Since the 1999 disaster, Odisha, with a population of about 42 million, has improved its disaster preparedness by establishing a disaster management agency, constructing shelters, and developing evacuation routes. The preparations for Cyclone Dana drew on lessons learned from past experiences.
On Thursday, India deployed its navy and other rescue teams for disaster relief. Alerts for potential cyclones and extremely heavy rainfall were issued for coastal regions of Odisha and West Bengal, with forecasts predicting two to four inches of rain, and in some areas, over eight inches.
Flight operations were canceled at Kolkata Airport and Biju Patnaik International Airport for at least 15 hours overnight. Additionally, Indian Railways canceled over 100 trains.
In response to the impending storm, school classes and exams in numerous districts of Odisha and West Bengal were suspended starting Wednesday. Marine activities, including fishing, were also banned in the Bay of Bengal until the cyclone passes.
The India Meteorological Department warned that the storm could potentially damage homes, roads, crops, and power lines, leading to flooding and landslides.