More than 1.1 million people are being evacuated from coastal regions of India’s eastern states to shelters ahead of Cyclone Dana, which is expected to make landfall late Thursday night, government officials reported.
The India Meteorological Department forecasts the storm will hit the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha, home to approximately 150 million people, as a “severe cyclonic storm” with wind speeds reaching 120 km/h (74 mph).
Heavy rains have already begun in Kolkata, with the airport there and in Bhubaneshwar scheduled to suspend operations overnight.
The storm’s centre is projected to reach land early Friday near the Dhamara port, a coal-export hub located 230 km (140 miles) southwest of Kolkata.
Low-lying Bangladesh, which borders the affected region, is also preparing for the impact, with interim government leader Muhammad Yunus confirming extensive safety measures.
Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling confirmed nearly a million people are being relocated to cyclone shelters. In West Bengal, over 100,000 residents have been moved to safer areas, according to state official Bankim Chandra Hazra.
Authorities in the beach resort city of Puri have ordered businesses to close and instructed tourists to leave.
“All efforts are being made to face the cyclone and save lives,” Puri district magistrate Siddharth Swain stated.
Transportation has been heavily disrupted, with train services cancelled and ferries halted. Schools have also been closed temporarily.
Cyclones are a recurring threat in the Indian Ocean region. In May, Cyclone Remal caused at least 48 deaths in India and 17 in Bangladesh.
Scientists warn that climate change is contributing to the growing strength and frequency of these storms.
