The Odisha government has initiated major rehabilitation and restoration operations in regions impacted by Cyclone Dana, which recently caused significant infrastructure damage, downed power lines, and uprooted trees.
Rescue teams in Odisha's Balasore and Bhadrak districts assisted several residents from villages now facing flash floods, as heavy rainfall followed the cyclone’s landfall. Cyclone Dana, which made landfall on Friday, October 25, claimed four lives but has since weakened into a low-pressure area over northern Odisha.
Evacuations were conducted in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts due to localized flooding and the rising water levels of the Budhabalang River, which was fueled by the cyclone’s intense rainfall. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the low-pressure area over northern Odisha is expected to dissipate entirely by Sunday, October 27.
In most affected districts, electricity has been restored to approximately 92 percent of homes. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi reported that 8,09,513 people were evacuated for safety during the cyclone, with 1,10,770 people currently residing in various relief camps until floodwaters recede. Local authorities are ensuring these shelters have adequate food and supplies.
Chief Minister Manjhi also noted that 20 villages across six gram panchayats in Balasore’s Remuna and Balasore Sadar blocks have experienced flooding. "Evacuations are in full swing," he said, with food provided at the shelters for those relocated to safer areas.
The full extent of Cyclone Dana’s impact on crops will be evaluated once the weather clears. Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo reported that 14 districts in Odisha have been affected, with Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, and Mayurbhanj experiencing the worst damage.
Meanwhile, in Kolkata, skies cleared on Sunday, bringing relief to residents after heavy rainfall linked to Cyclone Dana. Floodwaters have started to recede from numerous areas, easing the situation in the city. However, several locations in West Bengal, including Hooghly, Bankura, Jhargram, and Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts, remain waterlogged. Farmlands in these areas, particularly those with paddy and potato crops, have sustained damage from the flooding. The IMD forecasts isolated heavy rains to persist in Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, and Jhargram districts, with gradual improvement in the weather expected by Sunday.