Odisha, West Bengal brace for Cyclone Dana: How was it named and what it means?

Cyclone Dana Set to Strengthen, West Bengal and Odisha Brace for Impact

Cyclone Dana is predicted to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm, with landfall expected late Thursday, October 24, along the Odisha and West Bengal coasts. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the closure of primary and secondary schools in nine districts from Wednesday to October 26 as a precaution. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression, with further strengthening expected. The cyclone is projected to cross between Puri in Odisha and Sagar Island in West Bengal early on October 25, bringing wind speeds of 100-110 km/h, gusting up to 120 km/h.

The IMD stated that the depression was located 700 km from Paradip in Odisha and 750 km from Sagar Island in West Bengal on Tuesday morning. Cyclone Dana will be the second major storm to hit India's coast within two months, following Cyclone Asna in August.

Cyclone Dana was named by Qatar, following the World Meteorological Organisation’s (WMO) cyclone naming convention. The name “Dana,” meaning “generosity” in Arabic, reflects the region's cultural practice of naming tropical storms. This system of naming began in 2000 and now includes 13 member countries, including India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.