A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into Cyclone Dana, expected to reach severe status before hitting the eastern coast between Odisha and West Bengal on October 25, with wind speeds up to 120 kmph,

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.

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,

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.

Similar measures have been taken by the Odisha government, which has closed schools and colleges in 14 districts, including Ganjam, Puri, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Khurda, Nayagargh, and Cuttack until October 25.

The deep depression in the east-central Bay of Bengal intensified into cyclonic storm Dana at around 5.30 am on Wednesday, and is centred at around 560 km from Odisha's Paradip and 630 km from Sagar Island,

The cyclonic storm is likely to make landfall near Puri and Sagar coast in Odisha on October 24-24. IMD has issued heavy rainfall alert for several districts of Odisha and West Bengal.

A total of 197 trains have been cancelled and educational institutes have been closed in vulnerable parts of West Bengal and Odisha as the two states brace for the landfall of Cyclone Dana in the early hours of5.