Cyclone Dana: Trains cancelled, flight operations suspended, severely impacted normal life in Bhubaneswar

Cyclone Dana has severely impacted normal life in Odisha's capital Bhubaneswar, as the city faces intense winds and heavy rainfall. The cyclone has led to the suspension of several services and major disruptions across the region. A low-density vehicular movement was noticed in the state capital, while a few people were spotted in the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal in the city, airport and railway station. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Deputy Inspector General Mohsen Shahedi said that 20 teams are deployed in Odisha and 17 teams in West Bengal in preparation for severe cyclonic storm Dana's landfall.

Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors and avoid venturing out unless absolutely necessary. Emergency teams are on high alert, and the state government has activated disaster management protocols to handle any potential crises. Meanwhile, train services have been cancelled as a precautionary measure, affecting connectivity between cities. Additionally, flight operations at Biju Patnaik International Airport have been temporarily suspended, causing inconvenience to passengers and travel disruptions.

A low-density vehicular movement was noticed in the state capital,



while a few people were spotted in the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal in the city, airport and railway station. A few passengers in the busy Bhubaneswar railway station were spotted as the East Coast Railway (ECoR) cancelled 203 trains. Some tourists were seen taking shelter in the station. “We have visited Jagannath temple in Puri and are scheduled to return to our home through a train. But, we got a message that our train had been cancelled. So we are taking shelter here,” said a tourist from Maharashtra.

The Bhubaneswar airport authorities decided to suspend flight operations from 5 pm on October 24 to 9 am on October 25 in view of cyclone Dana. During the 16-hour flight suspension, about 40 flights, both domestic and international, will be affected, disrupting travel plans for many passengers, another official said.

The state government closed all educational institutions in Bhubaneswar from October 23 to 25. Government offices, banks, shops, malls and commercial establishments remained open but there were fewer crowds than normal days. Even the state-run Capital Hospital in the city witnessed "very minimal footfall" during the day, an official of the health facility said.