Odisha sees flash flooding after cyclone Dana, waterlogging in parts of Bengal

The Odisha government has launched rehabilitation and restoration efforts in areas affected by Cyclone Dana, after the storm damaged public infrastructure, snapped power lines and uprooted trees.

Several people were rescued by the local teams in many villages in Odisha’s Balasore and Bhadrak districts, which are facing flash floods due to intense rainfall, after the cyclone. Severe Cyclone Dana made landfall on Friday, October 25, leading to the death of four people, but has since weakened into a low-pressure system over northern Odisha.

Odisha government launched an evacuation drive in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts due to flooding in some areas and the risk of more localities getting inundated owing to the rise in water level in the Budhabalang River caused by heavy rain triggered by Cyclone Dana.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the well-marked low pressure area over north Odisha districts is likely to weaken further and become insignificant by Sunday, October 27. In Odisha, electricity has been restored in 92 per cent of houses in the affected districts.

According to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi, a total of 8,09,513 people were evacuated to safety during the cyclone and of them, only 1,10,770 people were still staying in different relief camps and shelters.

They can stay in the relief camps till water recedes from their areas, he said, adding that the district administrations are making proper arrangements for food. According to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, 20 villages under six-gram panchayats of Remuna and Balasore Sadar blocks in Balasore district have already been affected by floods.

“The evacuation drive is underway on a war footing,” he said, while adding that residents were being moved to safer locations and provided with cooked food at shelters. The damage assessment of crops due to Cyclone Dana in Odisha will be carried out after the rain subsides.

As per Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo, 14 districts have been affected in the state, with Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, and Mayurbhanj being the most severely impacted.

Meanwhile, a clear sky was observed in Kolkata on Sunday, after heavy rains lashed the city due to cyclone Dana. According to local officials, water receded from many areas as the rains stopped, bringing much needed respite for the people of the city.

Though the situation in Kolkata improved, several areas in Hooghly, Bankura, Jhargram, Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts remained waterlogged.

The heavy showers have inundated farmlands, causing damage to crops such as paddy and potatoes in these districts. As per IMD officials, isolated heavy rains are likely in Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram districts, and the weather is likely to improve from Sunday.