Cyclonic Storm Dana Prompts Major Rail and Air Disruptions in Bihar

Patna: In light of the impending cyclonic storm “Dana” set to hit parts of Odisha and West Bengal, multiple train and flight services have been canceled in Bihar. The storm, expected to cause severe weather disruptions until October 26, has led authorities to take precautionary measures to ensure public safety.

A total of 12 trains, including popular routes like the 03230 Patna-Puri Special, 22644 Patna-Ernakulam Express, and 18419 Puri-Jayanagar Express, will remain canceled on Thursday. Additional cancellations include:

– 22823 Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani and 12875 Puri-Anand Vihar Neelanchal Express on October 25

– 18420 Jaynagar-Puri Express on October 26

However, to accommodate increased passenger demand during the festive season, the 05573/05574 Patliputra-Saraigarh-Patliputra Special will operate up to Jhanjharpur between October 25 and November 15.

In a move to further ease passenger inconvenience, the 03322 Rajgir-Tilaiya-Gurpa Express Special will extend its operations daily from October 24 to November 30. This train will depart Rajgir at 10:55 AM and arrive in Gurpa at 1:30 PM, while its return service, the 03321 Gurpa-Tilaiya-Rajgir Express, will leave Gurpa at 2:00 PM, reaching Rajgir at 4:30 PM.

Additionally, the 03350/03349 Danapur-Saharsa-Danapur Special will also run daily from October 24 to November 30.

The cyclonic storm has also impacted air travel. Two pairs of flights between Kolkata and Patna have been canceled. IndiGo flights 6E 713/0663 and 6E 895/342, scheduled for October 24 and 25, will not operate due to the adverse weather conditions.

Meteorologists predict wind speeds between 20-30 kilometers per hour during the storm’s passage, which is likely to affect Bihar until October 26. Authorities have urged travelers to stay updated on further developments and make necessary adjustments to their travel plans.

These cancellations come as a precautionary step, ensuring the safety of passengers and preventing travel disruptions caused by Cyclone Dana’s potential impacts.