Cyclone Dana weakens: Odisha Minister assures swift power restoration

Bhubaneswar, Oct 25: Following the disruption of electricity in several regions impacted by Cyclone Dana, the Odisha government announced on Friday that power distribution will be fully restored by evening. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari informed reporters after a review meeting that the intensity of rain and wind is expected to diminish as the cyclone weakens after making landfall in the Bhitarkanika area of Kendrapada district.

Minister Pujari noted that various teams, including the NDRF, ODRAF, Odisha Fire Service, OFDC, and the Rural Development department, are actively engaged in restoring normal road communication by clearing uprooted trees and other debris in affected areas.

While power supply has been disrupted in some locations, efforts are underway to rectify the situation quickly, with the expectation that electricity will be restored by Friday evening. He mentioned that telecom services remained stable throughout the cyclone.

The Minister also highlighted that individuals sheltered in cyclone relief centers are receiving cooked meals and essential services. Pregnant women have been relocated to medical facilities and ‘Maa Gruhas’ for safety. Notably, 1,600 babies were born during the cyclone, including 13 sets of twins.

Multiple social and voluntary organizations are collaborating with the government in the relief efforts, and all necessary precautions have been implemented to ensure public safety. Areas such as Bhadrak, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur experienced severe impacts from the cyclone, with Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Puri, and Cuttack also affected.