EPA
Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall within the next 24 hours.
Indian authorities are evacuating nearly 1.5 million people in the path of an approaching cyclone in the eastern states of Odisha (formerly Orissa) and West Bengal.
Thousands of rescue workers have been deployed to minimize the damage caused by Cyclone Dana, which is expected to make landfall within the next 24 hours.
Transport services have already been affected, with many trains and flights cancelled.
The Indian Meteorological Department said a depression over the Bay of Bengal is expected to develop into a severe cyclonic storm by Thursday evening.
Samarendra Raut and Himansu Samal
Over a million people evacuated in Odisha to temporary relief camps
The storm is expected to hit coastal areas with winds gusting between 100 and 120 km/h (62-74 mph).
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday said arrangements were in place to ensure the safety of residents in districts along the cyclone path.
State officials said they had prepared temporary relief camps with food, water and sanitation facilities.
“We are fully prepared to face the storm. Don't panic, be careful and be careful,” Majhi told the media.
Odisha is evacuating over a million people from 14 districts, while West Bengal is evacuating over 300,000 people from coastal areas.
Officials from both states and rescue teams are on alert. Schools in coastal regions have been closed.
Getty Images
Scientist from Kolkata Meteorological Department highlights position of Cyclone Dana
Flight operations from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata airports were suspended from Thursday evening to Friday morning and more than 200 trains were canceled as authorities prepared for the storm.
Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea and contingency plans have been drawn up for Paradip port in Odisha to ensure the safety of staff and people living nearby.
The weather department said “heavy to very heavy” rain is expected along the coast over the next 24 hours.
Odisha and West Bengal experience severe storms and cyclones every year.
In 1999, more than 10,000 people were killed in a cyclone in Odisha.
Last year, at least 16 people lost their lives when a cyclone hit India and Bangladesh.
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