Over One Million Flee as Cyclone Nears India’s Eastern Coast

Over a million people along India’s eastern coastline are evacuating to safer areas as Cyclone Dana approaches, bringing intense winds and heavy rainfall. Government officials report that 1.1 million residents from the coastal states of West Bengal and Odisha are being moved to storm shelters, with the cyclone anticipated to make landfall late Thursday night as a “severe cyclonic storm.”

The Indian Meteorological Department has forecasted gusts reaching up to 120 km/h (74 mph), impacting major cities and airports, including Kolkata, where heavy rains have already begun. Cyclone Dana’s eye is expected to make landfall near Dhamra Port, approximately 230 kilometers (140 miles) southwest of Kolkata, early Friday morning.

Bangladesh, also likely to feel the effects, is preparing as well. Interim government leader Muhammad Yunus noted that “extensive preparations” are underway. Coastal flooding, with water surges up to two meters (6.5 feet) above normal tides, is anticipated, heightening the urgency of evacuations.

Odisha’s health minister, Mukesh Mahaling, confirmed that nearly a million people have been relocated to cyclone shelters, while over 100,000 people have been evacuated from West Bengal’s vulnerable areas, according to state minister Bankim Chandra Hazra.

Tourist hubs like Puri have been cleared, with businesses closing and visitors advised to evacuate. “Our priority is to face the cyclone and safeguard lives,” stated Puri’s district magistrate Siddharth Swain. Kolkata’s airport director, Pravat Ranjan Beuria, announced an overnight suspension of flights due to the expected strong winds and heavy rainfall. Bhubaneshwar airport has followed suit, with trains and ferries also halted for safety.

Bangladesh’s disaster minister, Faruk-e-Azam, shared that authorities are on “high alert,” though no evacuation orders have been issued, as the brunt of the cyclone is expected to hit India.

Cyclones are a frequent and deadly threat in the northern Indian Ocean, with scientists noting that rising global temperatures are intensifying these storms. Warmer oceans add energy to storms, increasing wind speeds and rainfall, while improved forecasting and strategic evacuation planning have significantly reduced casualties.

Earlier this year, Cyclone Remal claimed the lives of at least 48 people in India and 17 in Bangladesh, underscoring the importance of preparedness for such extreme weather events.