A severe cyclonic storm, Cyclone Dana, struck India's eastern coast early Friday, causing damage to trees, power lines, and crops, but authorities confirmed there were no casualties or major injuries. The cyclone made landfall in Odisha state shortly after midnight, bringing wind speeds of 100-110 km/h (62-68 mph) and gusts up to 120 km/h (75 mph). By mid-morning, the cyclone had weakened to a cyclonic storm and was expected to downgrade further into a deep depression by the afternoon.

In anticipation of the storm, Odisha state closed schools, suspended flights to and from Bhubaneswar until Friday morning, and evacuated over 500,000 residents to safety. "We don’t have any reports of damage to life or property, only damage to trees. Power in the affected areas will be restored by late afternoon," said Dilip Routrai, the administrative head of the region where the cyclone made landfall. Ports and industries in the region reported no major damage, with Paradip port resuming normal operations after a temporary suspension.

By late morning, residents from several coastal areas began returning to their homes from shelters, relieved to find that property and livestock remained largely intact. One resident shared that both their house and livestock had survived the storm unscathed.

Cyclone Dana's effects were felt beyond Odisha, impacting the neighboring state of West Bengal. Heavy rainfall, coupled with a surge in sea levels, inundated low-lying areas and damaged standing paddy crops that were nearly ready for harvest. In the Sunderbans region, winter vegetables were lost due to heavy rainfall and seawater intrusion. “Winter vegetables perished in large agricultural tracts because of heavy rains and the storm surge,” said Bankim Hazra, Minister for Sunderban Affairs.

Airports in Bhubaneswar and Kolkata were closed from Thursday evening but reopened by Friday morning. Several of the more than 200 suspended train services also resumed. Odisha reported power outages in some areas due to damaged power lines, though officials expected restoration by Friday afternoon. Efforts to clear uprooted trees were already underway in affected regions.

The storm’s heavy rains particularly impacted agricultural sectors in West Bengal, where inundated fields resulted in damage to crops nearing harvest. Paddy fields suffered significant losses, and the disruption extended to winter vegetable crops, raising concerns for local farmers.

India’s eastern coast is no stranger to severe cyclonic storms during the cyclone season, which spans April to December. Odisha, which experienced its deadliest cyclone in 1999 with 10,000 casualties, has since taken significant measures to mitigate cyclone impacts, including large-scale evacuations. This time, proactive evacuations and timely preparations played a crucial role in preventing casualties.

Cyclone Dana serves as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability during the cyclone season and the importance of continued vigilance and disaster preparedness.