Howrah (West Bengal) [India], October 23 (ANI): In the wake of cyclone ‘Dana’, trains at the Shalimar railway station have been tied to the railway track with the help of chains and locks to keep the trains from sliding away due to strong winds.
Additionally, as many as 190 local trains will remain suspended as part of precautionary measure.
The suspension will be in effect from 8 pm on Thursday until 10 am on Friday to ensure passenger safety.
Speaking to ANI on preparedness for cyclone ‘Dana’, Divisional Railway Manager, Sealdah, Deepak Nigam said, “To counter waterlogging, we have installed water pumps. Trees which could potentially get damaged have been trimmed. Announcement will be made to passengers to stay at the train stations buildings. We are installing DG sets at small stations and emergency lights are being provided.”
“Critical locations in south 24 Parganas will be manned by senior people from engineering and telecom departments. We will also have medical teams at the important locations. We will have diesel locomotives stationed at critical locations in case there is an emergency. Advertisment boards are being pulled down to avoid damage or accident,” said Nigam.
The official further said, “The last suburban train from Sealdah south will be at 8pm on 24th Oct. Services will resume on 25th October.190 services will remain suspended between 8pm on 24th October and 10 am on 25th October.”
West Bengal Minister and Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim also spoke on the same and said, “All pumping stations in Kolkata are ready. We are in constant touch with CESC to ensure proper power supply. Teams will be deployed in every ward. There is also full preparation to clear the roads and deal with waterlogging.”
“Damaged buildings are a big challenge. Food items have been arranged in most schools and community halls. We faced Amphan and Covid with the instructions of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, I assure all the people of Kolkata, we are ready to deal with this,” he said.
Meanwhile, flight operations at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata will be suspended for 15 hours starting at 6:00 PM on Thursday as a precautionary measure ahead of Cyclone Dana.
According to airport authorities, flight operations will be halted from 6:00 PM on October 25 until 9:00 AM on October 26. On Tuesday, the West Bengal government announced that schools and academic institutions would remain closed in several parts of the state following a notice from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) regarding Cyclone Dana, which is expected to make landfall on the West Bengal coast by October 24.
A notice issued by the School Education Department of the West Bengal Government stated that academic activities in seven districts–including South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura, Hooghly, Howrah, and Kolkata–would be suspended from October 23 to October 26.
The IMD has indicated that Cyclone Dana is likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the northwest Bay of Bengal by the early hours of October 24.
It is expected to cross the north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island, near Bhitarkanika and Dhamara in Odisha, between the night of October 24 and the morning of October 25, as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 100-110 km/h, gusting up to 120 km/h.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in both Odisha and West Bengal have been placed on standby. Additionally, rescue and relief teams from the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard are on high alert. (ANI)
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