Odisha, West Bengal, J'khand brace for Cyclone Dana impact

Authorities in Odisha and West Bengal evacuated lakhs of people, shut schools, cancelled over 400 trains and suspended flight operations as they braced on Thursday for severe cyclonic storm Dana, likely to make landfall in Odisha past midnight at 120kmph.

- Aritra Singha, Rajashekara

According to an IMD statement at 5.30pm, 'Dana' moved north-northwestwards at 13 kmph in past 6 hours and lay centred 90 km southeast of Paradip, 110 km south-southeast of Dhamara (Odisha) and 210 km south of Sagar Island (West Bengal).

governOdisha's revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said the ment has deployed 385 rescue teams comprising 19 NDRF teams, ODRAF (51), fire service (220) and forest staff (95).

This apart, 150 platoons (1 platoon comprise 30 men) of policemen have been pressed into service for rescue, road clearing and other activities.

Claiming the state is well prepared, Pujari said 3.50 lakh people have so far been evacuated to the safety and house in 4,756 relief centres where they are provided with food and other materials. As many as 2,131 villages in 11 districts would be affected.