Cyclone Dana: Kolkata airport to suspend flights for 15 hrs, many trains cancelled

As Odisha and West Bengal brace for Cyclone Dana to make landfall by October 25, several flights and trains originating in Kolkata have been cancelled.

Kolkata airport authorities have decided to suspend flight operations for 15 hours from 6 pm on Thursday (October 24) keeping in mind the safety of passengers, airline employees, various equipment, navigational aids and infrastructure, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said.

“In view of Cyclone Dana’s impact on the coastal region of West Bengal, including Kolkata, it has been decided to suspend flight operations from 6 pm on October 24 to 9 am on October 25 due to predicted heavy winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall at Kolkata,” an AAI spokesperson said.

14 SECR trains cancelled

As many as 14 trains passing through the South East Central Railway (SECR) zone have been cancelled as well.

The LTT-Puri Express, Durg-Puri Express, Brahmapur-Surat Express, Puri-Durg Express, Puri-Ajmer Express, Puri-Ahmedabad Express and Puri-Rishikesh Express will be cancelled on Thursday, a public relations officer of the Railways said.

Visakhapatnam-Amritsar Hirakud Express and Puri-Nizamuddin Express will remain cancelled on October 25 while Rishikesh-Puri Utkal Express and Surat-Brahmapur Express were cancelled on October 23, he said.

The Gandhidham-Puri Express was cancelled on October 22, Ajmer-Puri Express on October 29 and Ahmedabad-Puri Express on October 26.

SER cancels 150 trains

South Eastern Railway on Tuesday announced that more than 150 express and passenger trains running through its jurisdiction were cancelled in view of the cyclone.

The East Coast Railways on Tuesday also cancelled as many as 198 trains passing through and originating from Odisha.

Local trains services to be halted

As a precautionary measure, Eastern Railway will also not operate 190 local trains in its Sealdah division from 8 pm on Thursday till 10 am on Friday.

The 190 trains that will remain cancelled are in the Sealdah South and Hasnabad sections, an ER official said.

“The measure is being taken to ensure that no train is on the tracks in the affected areas during the time when the cyclone is apprehended to make landfall,” the ER official said.

Key suburban trains to be off track

The cancellations include 13 up and 11 down trains in Sealdah-Canning section, 15 up and 10 down trains in Sealdah-Lakshmikantapur section, 15 up and 14 down trains in Sealdah-Budge Budge section, 15 up and 15 down trains in Sealdah-Diamond Harbour section, seven up and nine locals in Sealdah-Baruipur section and 11 up and nine down locals in Sealdah-Barasat/Hasnabad section, he said.

The official said that the last train from Hasnabad and Namkhana stations, which are close to the coastal areas in North and South 24 Parganas districts respectively, will depart towards Sealdah by 7 pm on October 24.

Further decisions on running of trains in the Sealdah division will be taken assessing how the situation develops, he said.

Metro to remain operational

Metro Railway authorities said it is taking adequate measures to ensure normal services as well as safety and security of commuters.

The India Meteorological Department said on Wednesday the cyclone was likely to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port, separated by around 70 km, early Friday.

(With agency inputs)