As Cyclone Dana approaches the eastern coast of India, the states of Odisha and West Bengal are on high alert, with authorities taking precautionary measures ahead of the anticipated landfall on October 25. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of heavy rainfall and wind speeds reaching up to 120 kilometers per hour as the cyclone intensifies in the Bay of Bengal.

In anticipation of severe weather conditions, several trains running through coastal Odisha and Bengal have been cancelled or diverted. The East Coast Railway has announced the suspension of services on routes directly in the cyclone’s path to ensure the safety of passengers. State authorities in both Odisha and West Bengal have also begun evacuating residents from vulnerable coastal areas to safer locations.

The movement of trains has also been impacted by Cyclone Dana, as multiple trains have been cancelled. On October 24, the train No. 06087 from Tirunelveli Junction to Shalimar Special, which was supposed to depart Tirunelveli, has been cancelled. Similarly, the train from Bhubaneswar to Rameswaram (Rmanathapuram), Superfast Express scheduled to leave Bhubaneswar on October 25 has been cancelled.

Mohan Charan Majhi, the chief minister of Odisha, asked all MLAs to work with the government to organise rescue and relief efforts in the state, which is expected to be hardest hit by the storm.

The IMD has placed both Odisha and West Bengal under "orange alert" as Cyclone Dana draws nearer. Meteorologists warn that the storm could bring torrential rain, causing potential flooding and damage to infrastructure, particularly in low-lying areas. Fishermen have been advised to return to shore and suspend any fishing activities in the Bay of Bengal.

14 districts, including Angul, Puri, Nayagarh, Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, and Mayurbhanj, have been placed on notice by the Odisha government in accordance with the IMD projection.

Along with coastal regions and nearby districts like Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Jhargram, and Hooghly, the districts in Bengal most likely to be affected by the storm are South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Medinipur.

Authorities continue to monitor Cyclone Dana’s trajectory and issue advisories to the public, urging caution and preparation as the storm moves closer.With two days left until landfall, officials are urging citizens to stay tuned to weather updates and follow all instructions to minimize the potential damage caused by this severe cyclonic storm.