Cyclone Dana's Impact Looms Over Northeast India
Guwahati: As Cyclone Dana intensifies in the Bay of Bengal, its looming impact has triggered widespread concern across northeastern India, particularly in Assam. Expected to make landfall in Odisha by the early hours of October 25, with wind speeds reaching up to 120 km/h, the cyclone is set to unleash heavy rainfall across several states, raising alarms over potential flooding and landslides.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati has issued alerts for potential rainfall across Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, and other northeastern states in the coming days.
While the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has cautioned that the effects of the cyclone could severely disrupt transportation and daily life. As a precaution, numerous train services and flights have been canceled, with major airlines advising travelers to monitor updates closely.
Government agencies are on high alert, with evacuation plans in place as authorities work to mitigate the cyclone's secondary effects
Rainfall Forecast for Northeast India
According to Sanjay Shaw, Director of the RMC in Guwahati, moderate rain is highly likely in Mizoram and Tripura, while light to moderate rainfall could occur in parts of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Manipur. Arunachal Pradesh is also expected to see light rain at isolated places as the cyclone progresses inland. These conditions could significantly impact daily life, leading to disruptions in transportation, power supply, and agriculture in some regions.
Travel Disruptions: Canceled Trains and Flights
In response to safety concerns, several trains connecting Assam with other parts of India have been canceled. The East Coast Railway (ECoR) and Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) have preemptively halted operations of certain trains to mitigate risks from Cyclone Dana. The affected services include:
Cancellation of Train Services
1. Kamakhya – SMVT Bengaluru AC Superfast Express (12552)- 23rd October 2024
2. Silchar - Secunderabad Superfast Express (12514)- 23rd October 2024
3. Dibrugarh – Kanyakumari Vivek Express (22504/22503)- 23rd October 2024
4. SMVT Bengaluru – Guwahati Superfast Express (12509)- 23rd October 2024
5. SMVT Bengaluru – Muzaffarpur Express (15227)- 24th October 2024
6. SMVT Bengaluru-Kamakhya A/C Express (12551) - 26th October 2024
7. Secunderabad Jn-Silchar SF Express (12513) - 26th October 2024
8. Guwahati-SMVT Bengaluru Express (12510) - 26th October 2024
Further cancellations are expected as the cyclone makes landfall and progresses, potentially affecting rail connectivity between Assam and the rest of the country over the next few days.
Flight Cancellations in Assam
Air travel has also been severely impacted by Cyclone Dana. Airports like Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati have experienced cancellations and delays of both domestic and international flights as a precautionary measure. Airlines have advised passengers to stay updated on their flight statuses, with major carriers including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet canceling or rescheduling flights to and from Guwahati, especially those connecting with Kolkata and Bhubaneswar.
Kolkata Airport, a key hub for northeastern connectivity, has announced a shutdown from 6 PM on October 24 to 9 AM on October 25, affecting several connecting flights to Assam and neighboring regions.
In light of these developments, the Guwahati airport authorities announced today that Cyclone Dana has not affected its operations.
In a statement to Business North East, the company said, "We have conducted thorough assessments of our sites and are pleased to report that there has been no operational impact from Cyclone Dana. Our teams were well-prepared and executed all necessary precautionary measures to ensure the safety of our employees and assets."
Preparations and Precautionary Measures
Evacuations and Safety Preparations Underway
The governments of Odisha and West Bengal have launched large-scale evacuations and temporarily shut down educational institutions in vulnerable areas. The Indian Coast Guard has also been mobilized, with ships, helicopters, and aircraft ready to assist in rescue operations. While Assam is not directly in the path of Cyclone Dana, the ripple effects of heavy rains and disrupted transport are already being felt.
With Cyclone Dana expected to weaken as it moves further inland, the focus remains on mitigating the cyclone's secondary effects, such as landslides and flash floods, particularly in the hilly terrains of the Northeast, according to the authorities from India Coast Guard for northeastern region. Taking to X (formerly twitter), they tweeted, "our ships, helicopters, and Dornier aircrafts are fully prepared for assistance, rescue and relief operations.
The railways and aviation authorities have further informed through tweets, for those planning travel, staying updated with railway helplines and airline announcements is essential.
Updates from Government Officials
Union ministers, including the Minister for Civil Aviation, have taken to social media to urge people to follow safety advisories and to promise coordinated efforts to minimize the cyclone's impact.
The Minister tweeted, "Our top priority remains the safety of every citizen. Coordination between central and state agencies will ensure swift response and rescue operations as #CycloneDana approaches. Stay alert and follow official advisories."
The Ministry has also shared updates regarding measures taken to secure airport operations in the affected regions. The Ministry of Railways has announced the cancellation of over 150 train services passing through the cyclone-affected areas to prioritize public safety.
Local leaders, such as the Chief Minister of Odisha, have called upon all legislators to remain in their constituencies to assist in coordinating relief measures with district administrations. The emphasis is on achieving a "zero casualty" outcome through preemptive evacuations and ensuring that vulnerable populations are moved to safer shelters.
As the cyclone approaches, authorities and response teams remain on high alert to mitigate risks posed by the severe weather conditions, with continuous updates on travel and safety measures being issued.
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