A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is advancing steadily towards the mainland, and meteorologists are closely monitoring its progress. Satellite images are being analyzed to track the movement, and weather offices are issuing warnings based on the latest data. According to the most recent update from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the low-pressure area is currently situated 630 kilometers away from Sagar Island. It is expected to intensify into Cyclone ‘Dana’ by Wednesday noon.
The IMD has reported that the system is moving in a west-northwest direction, at a speed of 18 km/h since Tuesday midnight. As of now, the low-pressure area is 560 kilometers away from Paradip, Odisha, and 630 kilometers from Khepupara, Bangladesh. Meteorologists predict that the storm will likely transform into a severe cyclone by Thursday morning over the northwestern Bay of Bengal. By Thursday night or early Friday morning, it may make landfall between Puri in Odisha and Sagar Island in West Bengal, with wind speeds reaching 100 to 110 km/h and gusts up to 120 km/h.
Due to this developing cyclone, heavy rainfall is expected in Andaman’s coastal areas on Wednesday. Additionally, Odisha’s Bhadrak, Balasore, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, and Khordha districts, as well as West Bengal’s North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, East and West Midnapore, Howrah, Hooghly, Jhargram, and Bankura are likely to experience scattered heavy rains. Rainfall intensity is expected to increase from Thursday onwards, with the storm affecting these regions until October 25.
The sea is already turbulent in parts of the Bay of Bengal, with rough conditions prevailing in the eastern and central parts since Monday. The sea near the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha is expected to become even rougher from Wednesday evening through Friday morning. In response to the cyclone warning, the West Bengal government has issued several precautionary measures. Schools in nine districts will remain closed starting Wednesday, and control rooms have been set up to monitor the situation. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, and coastal residents are being evacuated from low-lying areas. In addition, tourism restrictions have been imposed in Digha, where tourists are being asked to vacate hotels by Wednesday. Similar directives have been issued for hotels in Shankarpur, Mandarmani, and Tajpur.