Cyclone Dana: Flight operations resume at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport

Cyclone Dana: After the cyclone made landfall on the coast of Odisha today, flight operations at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport, which had been closed as a precautionary measure owing to cyclonic storm Dana, resumed at 8 am on Friday, according to airport officials.

Additionally, after being closed for aircraft operations yesterday, flight operations at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport restarted at 8 am.

During the early hours of the morning, Cyclone ‘Dana’ made landfall between Bhitarkanika in the Kendrapara district and Dhamra in Bhadrak, with winds close to 110 kmph.

The Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar has declared that aircraft operations will be suspended from 5:00 PM on October 24 to 9:00 AM on Friday, ahead of the cyclone’s expected impact. Flight operations will restart at 8 a.m. instead of 9 a.m., according to Prasanna Pradhan, director of the Bhubaneswar Airport.

As the cyclone made landfall in the early hours of this morning, Dhamra and Bhadrak were pounded by turbulent sea, strong winds, and rain.

Winds over 110 kmph and very heavy rain are being experienced in the districts of Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Balasore, and Jagatsinghpur.

In an update released at 8:30 am, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that “the landfall process would continue for the next one to two hours.”
The meteorological service also said that by this afternoon, it is expected to progressively wane into a cyclonic storm.

At Rajiv Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is assessing the landfall condition of Cyclone “Dana” in the presence of Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja and Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management Suresh Pujari.

Approximately 5.84 lakh people have been evacuated to shelters so far, according to the chief minister.

There were issues with the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal (BSABT) at Baramunda, Bhubaneswar. People can be waiting for the resumption of transportation services at the bus station.

Assistant fisheries officer Sandeep Kumar Behera described the administration’s attempts to evacuate fishermen and boats in anticipation of Cyclone Dana Bhadrak, saying, “The cyclone (landfall) is underway; all boats were safely anchored.” After the cyclone is evaluated, we will learn about any damages and, if necessary, take appropriate action. We’ll act in accordance with official procedures.”

Assistant fisheries officer Sandeep Kumar Behera described the administration’s attempts to evacuate fishermen and boats in anticipation of Cyclone Dana Bhadrak, saying, “The cyclone (landfall) is underway; all boats were safely anchored.” After the cyclone is evaluated, we will learn about any damages and, if necessary, take appropriate action. We’ll act in accordance with official procedures.”

“A severe cyclonic storm is currently in effect, with wind speeds ranging from 100 to 110 km/h,” said Manorama Mohanty, Director of IMD. The process of landfall is still ongoing. For the next one to two hours, it will go on. It is anticipated to progressively deteriorate into a cyclonic storm as it moves west-northwest over North Odisha.

Strong gusts and a lot of rain caused trees to be uprooted, blocking many highways in coastal Odisha.