Kolkata: Cyclone Dana made landfall on Odisha as a “severe cyclonic” storm in the wee hours of Friday and the process continued till morning causing extremely heavy rains and gusty winds with speed up to 110 kmph, the India Meteorological Department has said.
However, no major damage or casualty has been reported yet as authorities in Odisha and adjoining West Bengal took preventive measures by evacuating people and shutting down operations at public places such as railway stations, bus stations and airports.
Cyclone Dana impact on Kolkata airport
In view of cyclone Dana, the Kolkata airport had announced suspending flight operations for about 15 hours starting from 6 pm, Thursday till Friday morning. However, the suspension of flights was delayed a bit, officials said.
“On Thursday evening, IndiGo’s Amritsar-Kolkata flight was the last to arrive in the eastern metropolis, landing at 6:11 PM. The final departure was IndiGo’s Kolkata-Guwahati flight at 7:00 PM,” airport director Pravat Ranjan Beuria was quoted as saying by PTI.
Flight operations were briefly delayed due to a non-specific bomb threat targeting Kolkata.
Latest Kolkata airport flight status and updates
A total of 309 flights have been affected during the suspension of operations at the airport. The shutdown that began on Thursday evening is likely to continue till Friday morning. Flight operations at the Kolkata airport are expected to resume by 9 am on Friday.
After the final flight departed from Kolkata airport, all entry and exit doors of the terminal building were sealed, and aircraft parked on the bays were secured, according to the official.
Additionally, aerobridges were retracted, and ladders were tied together to prevent movement that could damage planes during the storm. Following standard procedures, all vehicles operating on the airside were removed from the operational area and parked in safe locations, the official added.
Kolkata airport weather alerts due to Cyclone Dana
Amid a heavy rainfall warning for parts of West Bengal including Kolkata due to cyclone Dana that has hit the state’s coastal belt and Odisha, preventive measures have also been taken at the Kolkata airport to minimise damage and disruption in resuming operations.
All ground handling equipment was securely chained to prevent movement caused by strong winds. Ground handling units and agencies ensured that no materials related to their operations were left exposed, airport director Pravat Ranjan Beuria said.
This precaution was taken to prevent debris from becoming airborne during the storm, which could potentially damage aircraft parked on the tarmac, the official added.
Airlines are also working in coordination with the airport authorities to manage the situation. Other safety protocols such as lowering of high mast lights and morning of smaller aircraft were also carried out.
