West Bengal schools shut from October 23 to 26 in view of cyclone Dana: Report

NEW DELHI: After Odisha, the West Bengal government has announced closure of schools in a few districts from October 23 to 26 in view of cyclone Dana, as per an ANI report. The schools will remain shut in the districts of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura, Hooghly, Howrah and Kolkata, the report said.

Earlier today, the Odisha government directed all schools to remain closed in 14 districts from October 23 to 25 as a precautionary measure in view of the cyclonic storm.

A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression in the morning today, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning that it could develop into a severe cyclonic storm.

IMD alert

The system is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23, crossing the northern coast of Odisha and southern West Bengal between Puri and Sagar in the early hours of October 25.

The storm is forecasted to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to southern West Bengal, particularly on October 24 and 25, with extremely heavy downpours possible in South 24 Parganas, Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur, and Jhargram districts. Additionally, heavy rainfall is expected in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Purulia, and Bankura between October 24 and 25.

(with inputs from PTI)