Cyclone Dana's Impact on Jharkhand: Weather Updates and Precautionary Measures

Cyclone Dana affected parts of Jharkhand with rain and inclement weather, disrupting elections and closing schools. Chief Minister Hemant Soren monitored the situation closely. The cyclone is expected to weaken, yet preventive measures and NDRF deployments have been executed in susceptible areas.

Rain swept across parts of Jharkhand on Friday as Cyclone Dana made landfall, according to a meteorological official.

The Kolhan region, comprising West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharswan, and East Singhbhum districts, has been experiencing light to moderate rainfall since Thursday night. Other areas in the state faced cloudy skies with intermittent showers.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren stated on Friday that he has been keeping an hourly watch over the storm's development for the last 24 hours. "Several precautionary measures have been implemented mainly in East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Saraikela-Kharsawan districts," he assured via a social media post.

Soren appealed to residents to adhere strictly to administrative guidelines as the cyclone is expected to weaken shortly. Meanwhile, adverse weather conditions have hindered election preparations in Jharkhand.

A rally scheduled by the Chief Minister in Bokaro on Friday was canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions, according to a statement from his personal secretary.

Ranchi Meteorological Centre officials verified that the storm's influence over Jharkhand has diminished. "Heavy to very heavy rainfall might occur in one or two districts within the Kolhan region on Friday, with central Jharkhand, including Ranchi, experiencing moderate rainfall," stated Abhishek Anand, Ranchi Meteorological Centre in-charge, to PTI.

He further noted that rain intensity is anticipated to decline on Saturday.

The Meteorological Department had earlier issued an 'orange' alert for the Kolhan region. The inclement weather prompted the Jharkhand School Education and Literacy Development Department to declare a closure of schools within the Kolhan division on Friday.

All educational institutions, both public and private, from kindergarten to class 12, in West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum, and Saraikela-Kharswan districts will remain shut in response to the alert issued regarding heavy rains and strong winds from Cyclone Dana, read an official department notice.

The state's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been proactively deployed, with six units stationed in Jamshedpur and Chaibasa, and two units on standby in Ranchi, prepared to counter any emergencies.

The Meteorological Centre reported that Cyclone Dana has moved north-northwest at a speed of 10 km/h, weakening into a cyclonic storm over north coastal Odisha. The landfall process has concluded in Odisha, where it is anticipated to move northwestwards and gradually subside into a deep depression in the following six hours.

(With inputs from agencies.)