A weather system over the Bay of Bengal has intensified and is expected to become a severe cyclonic storm named Dana. It is projected to make landfall along the Odisha-West Bengal coast in the early hours of October 25,

The storm is likely to move in a northwestward direction, intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over northwest Bay of Bengal and cross the Odisha – West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island in the early hours of October 25 with wind speeds of up to 120 kmph, the IMD added.

Cyclone Dana is likely to strike the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal in the early hours of Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The IMD has forecast wind speeds of 100-110km/h, gusting up to 120km/h. Heavy rainfall and high winds are expected along the eastern coast, especially from Puri in Odisha to Sagar Island in West Bengal.

East Coast Railways cancels 178 trains as cyclone nears Odisha and Bengal; authorities begin large-scale evacuations; schools closed in coastal districts from October 23 to 26

Odisha Minister Suresh Pujari said apart from 800 cyclone shelters, an additional 500 temporary shelters have been made ready including schools and colleges.

IMD predicts heavy rainfall in Odisha and West Bengal due to Cyclone Dana. The cyclone is likely to hit on October 24, prompting emergency measures in both states. NDRF teams are deployed, and coastal areas are being evacuated.

Six districts of Bengal, including North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, East Medinipur, and West Medinipur, have been put on high alert for Cyclone Dana, which is likely to make landfall between Puri and Ganga Sagar on4.