NEW DELHI — The NDRF has deployed a total of 56 teams in five states, including Odisha and West Bengal, in view of cyclone 'Dana', which is expected to make landfall along the Odisha coast between October 24 and 25.
Mohsen Shahedi, deputy inspector general (operations) of the NDRF, told PTI that the teams are equipped with pole and tree cutters, inflatable boats, basic first-aid tools and other flood rescue equipment.
"The focus areas for us, and as informed by the IMD and other agencies, are the states of Odisha and West Bengal," the officer of the federal disaster contingency force said.
A senior officer added that a total of 45 teams were sought by the states in view of the cyclone. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has earmarked a total of 56 teams, out of which 45 are on active deployment right now.
Also read: Coast Guard on high alert after cyclone forecast, mobilise assets to respond to any contingency
Those in reserve will be positioned on active duty as the situation develops, he said.
There are 20 teams in Odisha, out of which one is in reserve, while of the 17 in West Bengal, 13 are in reserve. Apart from the NDRF, the respective state disaster response forces are also deployed in these areas, the second officer said.
The NDRF has also deployed nine teams each in Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand while one has been based in Chhattisgarh as these states may face heavy rains and flooding post the landfall of the cyclone in the intervening hours of Thursday and Friday.
The rescue teams, along with the state forces and local administration, are currently evacuating people from the coastal and affected areas, the officer said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday said the cyclone is likely to make landfall between the Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port, around 70 km away, early Friday.
It said that the landfall process will start from the night of October 24 and continue till the morning of October 25. The maximum speed during the landfall process is likely to be around 120 kmph, as per the IMD.
Dana means "generosity" in Arabic and the name for the cyclone was chosen by Qatar as per the standard convention of naming tropical cyclones in the region.
Cyclone Dana: 190 local trains cancelled in Eastern Railway's Sealdah division
KOLKATA — The Eastern Railway will not operate 190 local trains in its Sealdah division from 8 pm on Thursday till 10 am on Friday in view of cyclonic storm 'Dana', an official said.
The step was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of train passengers.
The 190 trains that will remain cancelled are in the Sealdah South and Hasnabad sections, the ER official said.
The storm, which is likely to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port in Odisha early Friday with wind speeds of up to 120 kmph, will bring heavy rain in several south Bengal districts on October 24 and 25, the Met office said.
"The measure is being taken to ensure that no train is on the tracks in the affected areas during the time when the cyclone is apprehended to make landfall," the ER official said.
The cancellations include 13 up and 11 down trains in Sealdah-Canning section, 15 up and 10 down trains in Sealdah-Lakshmikantapur section, 15 up and 14 down trains in Sealdah-Budge Budge section, 15 up and 15 down trains in Sealdah-Diamond Harbour section, seven up and nine locals in Sealdah-Baruipur section and 11 up and nine down locals in Sealdah-Barasat/Hasnabad section, he said.
The official said that the last train from Hasnabad and Namkhana stations, which are close to the coastal areas in North and South 24 Parganas districts respectively, will depart towards Sealdah by 7 pm on October 24.
Further decisions on running of trains in the Sealdah division will be taken assessing how the situation develops, he said.
The Metro Railway authorities said that it is taking adequate measures to ensure normal services as well as safety and security of commuters.
South Eastern Railway on Tuesday announced that more than 150 express and passenger trains running through its jurisdiction were cancelled in view of the cyclone.
The East Coast Railways on Tuesday also cancelled as many as 198 trains passing through and originating from Odisha.