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Odisha is gearing up to tackle possible disasters due to the severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ which is heading towards its coast and likely to make landfall on Thursday morning. The state government has cancelled the leave of all officers and staff due to the impending cyclonic storm and asked them to remain alert at their headquarters. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that a low-pressure area will be formed over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea today. It will move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression by tomorrow and further intensify into a cyclonic storm over the east-central Bay of Bengal by Wednesday. Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and reach the northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha-West Bengal coasts by Thursday morning and make landfall with a wind speed of 120 km per hour. The exact location of the landfall of the severe cyclonic storm is yet to be predicted by IMD.
The Odisha government has planned for a massive evacuation of people living in low-lying areas of coastal districts as the severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ is likely to make landfall on Thursday morning off Odisha coast. It is ready to meet any eventuality particularly water logging and landslides in hilly areas due to the possible severe cyclonic storm. District and concerned departments have been instructed to operate control rooms on a 24×7 basis. Cyclone shelters are being kept in readiness, while the provision of drinking water during and lighting arrangements are being done. District collectors have been asked to remain prepared in their respective areas and keep continuous vigil of low-lying areas, dewatering wherever required, including urban areas. They have been asked to advise farmers to postpone the application of fertilizers and chemicals in agricultural fields and advised people to keep livestock in safe places.