The South 24-Parganas district administration is bracing itself for Cyclone Dana, which is expected to hit the coastal regions of Bengal and Odisha on Thursday.

With the Sunderbans delta, particularly Sagar Island, projected to be at greatest risk by weather forecasts, the district authorities have initiated extensive measures to minimise the damage and ensure swift recovery after the potential natural disaster.

Somnath Dutta, the head of the eastern region of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said the cyclone was likely to make landfall between the night of October 24 and the morning of October 25. He said the coastal areas of north Odisha and Bengal, especially between Sagar Island in Bengal and Puri in Odisha, were expected to be the most affected.

Following landfall, wind speeds in coastal areas could reach 100-120kmph. Light to moderate showers are forecast across south Bengal from October 23.

The developing system may intensify into a deep depression by Tuesday morning and trigger heavy rain.

South 24-Parganas district magistrate Sumit Gupta convened a high-level meeting on Monday with officials of various departments, including power, irrigation, relief, and disaster management, to discuss preparations to tackle the disaster.

“Cyclone threats are not new to us. We remain prepared year-round for such natural challenges. As the forecast suggests Sagar Island will be hit, we have taken all necessary precautions. Fishermen venturing into deep-sea fishing have already been alerted,” said Gupta.

The state fisheries department imposed a ban on marine fishing, advising fishermen to stay off the sea until Saturday. Those already at sea were instructed to return by
Tuesday evening.

The IMD forecast three consecutive days of storms, accompanied by heavy rainfall, which could lead to rising water levels and tidal surges that might damage earthen dykes. In response, the irrigation department began urgent repairs of vulnerable dykes.

Sunderbans police district, in collaboration with local authorities, started alerting the people of coastal regions such as Sagar, Namkhana, Fraserganj, Bakkhali, Patharpratima and Raidighi to the cyclone’s arrival.

“We have so far decided to open 64 cyclone centres — 18 in Sagar, 10 in Kakdwip, 20 in Patharpratima and 16 in Namkhana blocks of the Kakdwip subdivision. Residents near the embankments have been advised to pack essentials and relocate to higher ground or cyclone centres if necessary,” an official of the Kakdwip subdivision said.

The district administration has yet to start mass evacuations from vulnerable areas, but Gupta said officials were monitoring the situation.

“We are ready in all respects to accommodate affected people, but we will observe developments over the next 24 hours before deciding on evacuation,” he said.

A 24-hour control room was set up in the Kakdwip subdivision office, while civil defence, SDRF and NDRF teams were placed on alert to tackle any potential disaster.

Panchayat and block offices were instructed to stock dry food, drinking water and tarpaulins. A control room will be opened in each block development office to monitor the coastal regions, an official said.