New Delhi, Oct 24: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Deputy Inspector General Mohsen Shahedi on Thursday said that 20 teams are deployed in Odisha and 17 teams in West Bengal in preparation for severe cyclonic storm Dana's landfall.

He also said that more than 1 lakh 70 thousand people who are in affected areas of Odisha have been evacuated.

Speaking to ANI, DIG-NDRF Mohsen said, "Today, it (Cyclone Dana) has been changed into a severe cyclonic storm. It is expected that the cyclone will make landfall at midnight or tomorrow morning. Our 20 teams are deployed in Odisha and 17 teams are in West Bengal."

"Odisha and West Bengal will be impacted more. It is expected that the Bhadrak district of Odisha will be affected the most. 10 coastal districts of Odisha are most affected. More than 1 lakh 70 thousand people who are in affected areas of Odisha have been evacuated," he added.

Earlier in the day, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said that the government is fully prepared and all the concerned departments and staff are ready to deal with any situation that arises due to severe cyclonic storm Dana's landfall.

Speaking to ANI in Bhubaneswar, Odisha Deputy CM Deo said, "The Government is prepared. All concerned departments of the Government are in position and all officers & workers of the various departments of the Government are in place and ready to tackle any eventuality...

"Each and every department of the Government, including the Chief Minister, Urban Minister, Revenue Minister, everybody is seized of the situation and we are taking whatever necessary steps that need to be taken at the ground level. Rather than creating a fear psychosis amongst the people, we should be more proactive and give justice to the people," he added.

India Meteorological Department Director General Dr Mrityunjay Mohapatra said that severe cyclonic storm Dana's most adverse impact will be over Odisha followed by West Bengal coastal districts.

Speaking to ANI in Delhi, IMD DG Dr Mrityunjay Mohapatra said, "The cyclone Dana intensified into a severe cyclonic storm last midnight and moved north north-westward and today in the forenoon it is lying centered about 200 km southeast."

"The most adverse impact will be over Odisha followed by West Bengal coastal districts, but after landfall, it is expected to move west-northwestward and hence there could be an increase in rainfall activity over south Jharkhand. We also issued heavy to very heavy rainfall warnings for south Jharkhand districts at isolated places. There could be a wind speed of 40 to 50 Km/hr in Jharkhand and 50 to 60 Km/hr in interior districts of Odisha on the 24th and 25th," he added.

Earlier today, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness for severe Cyclone Dana at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari was also present at the meeting.

(ANI)

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