Puri: Tourists have started leaving the Pilgrim Town Puri amid Odisha government’s advisory in view of imminent Cyclone ‘Dana’, which is likely to pass through Puri in Odisha and Sagar Island in West Bengal between Thursday night and Friday morning.
Long queues of tourists were seen at the Puri railway stand and bus stand while the local administration made arrangements for safe evacuation of the tourists. Some tourists complained that they were being fleeced by the ticketing agents and bus owners taking advantage of the situation.
The Odisha government issued an advisory on Monday requesting tourists to vacate Puri before the Cyclone Dana landfall. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said tourists in Puri should leave the seaside town soon as the cyclone is likely to have a severe impact on the region. The minister also directed the hotels and lodges in Puri not to accept any advance booking for this week.
Meanwhile, patrolling is underway and more lifeguards have been deployed at the Puri beach where red flags have also been put up.
Puri, Khurda, Dhenkanal, Angul, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj are likely to experience wind speed of 60 to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph once the current depression intensifies into a cyclonic storm.
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