Cyclone Dana Leaves Destruction Across Odisha’s Coast: Homes, Crops, and Livelihoods Damaged

Cyclone Dana, a severe storm that made landfall on Odisha’s coast in the early hours of Friday, has left behind widespread devastation, especially for the farming and fishing communities. With wind speeds reaching 110 km/h, Dana ravaged the coastal regions, causing significant losses in Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, and Balasore, where torrential rain and high-speed winds lashed the area, uprooting trees and flooding vast stretches of farmland.

The cyclone wreaked havoc on hundreds of thatched homes, leaving many either partially or completely destroyed. The powerful winds slammed fishing boats into rocks, wrecking vital equipment and endangering the livelihoods of many fishermen. Additionally, tidal surges and relentless rain inundated thousands of acres of farmland, affecting paddy crops that were in the crucial flowering stage.

In response to the calamity, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi held a high-level review meeting, urging district collectors to submit detailed damage assessments within seven days. Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari confirmed that the cyclone hit the coast around 12:05 a.m., continuing to impact the area through Friday afternoon. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and fire services have launched extensive rescue and recovery efforts, focused on clearing blocked roads, restoring power, and reopening access to essential services.

Director General of Fire Services, Sudhansu Sarangi, reassured the public that restoration work was well underway, particularly in the heavily impacted areas of Kendrapara’s Pattamundai, Rajakanika, and Rajnagar; Balasore’s Soro, Baripada, and Khaira; and Bhadrak’s Chandbali, Dhamnagar, and Basudevpur. Partial damage was also reported in Jagatsinghpur’s Kujang area. “We are fully equipped to handle the situation,” Sarangi stated, expressing optimism about the pace of recovery operations.

As Cyclone Dana weakens to a depression, Odisha’s focus has shifted toward rebuilding and supporting those whose lives and livelihoods were upended by this natural disaster.