Ranchi, Oct 24 – Parts of Jharkhand are expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall starting Thursday night due to the impact of cyclonic storm ‘Dana,’ according to an official from the Meteorological Department.
An ‘orange’ alert has been issued for the Kolhan region, which includes the districts of West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharswan, and East Singhbhum, indicating possible rainfall ranging from 115 mm to 204 mm within 24 hours on Friday, the official stated.
In addition to heavy rainfall, the region could experience thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 60 kmph, according to Abhishek Anand, head of the Ranchi Meteorological Centre.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Cyclone ‘Dana’ is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha early Friday, with wind speeds likely to reach up to 120 kmph. As of 2:30 am Wednesday, the cyclone was located 280 km southeast of Paradip in Odisha and 370 km south-southeast of Sagar Island in West Bengal, the IMD bulletin said.
Six teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Jamshedpur and Chaibasa, with two additional teams on standby in Ranchi, to address any emergencies that may arise, an official added.
Other areas in central Jharkhand, such as Ranchi, Khunti, Lohardaga, Gumla, and Ramgarh, are also expected to receive heavy rainfall on Friday, according to Anand.
“Light to moderate rainfall is likely in many parts of the state on Thursday, with the Kolhan division expected to be hit hardest by the cyclonic system,” he said.
The inclement weather may also impact political activities in the run-up to the Jharkhand Assembly elections, scheduled for two phases—November 13 and November 20—with the vote counting on November 23. The nomination process for the first phase is set to conclude on October 25, while nominations for the second phase will be accepted until October 29.
