Cyclone Dana is likely to hit Odisha coast on October 24 In the wake of the heavy rainfall, the Odisha government urged tourists not to visit holy town Puri until the cyclone makes landfall.

New Delhi, The National Disaster Response Force has kept 14 teams in West Bengal and 11 teams in Odisha on standby for deployment in the wake of an impending cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal which is likely to make a landfall between Puri and Sagar Island on Thursday, a government statement said Monday.

Cyclone Dana is predicted to hit the Odisha-West Bengal coast on3 (Wednesday). The cyclonic storm is expected to unleash heavy rainfall and strong winds. According to an IMD official, it can also intensify into ‘severe cyclonic storm’,

IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the system is expected to evolve into a powerful cyclonic storm, with significant to extremely heavy rainfall expected in parts of Odisha starting October 23.

Odisha says it is “fully prepared” to face the cyclone, West Bengal also predicted to receive very heavy rainfall.

In view of the impending cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal, the Odisha government decided to close the schools in affected districts from October 23rd to October 25th.

BHUBANESWAR: The cyclonic circulation over the Andaman Sea intensified into a low-pressure area at 5:30 am on Monday morning over the east-central Bay.

BHUBANESHWAR: The low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal on Monday intensified and is likely to turn into a severe cyclonic storm by October 23 and reach the coasts adjoining Odisha and West Bengal the next day,

The Odisha government issued an advisory for tourists and urged them to leave Puri soon in view of Cyclone Dana.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of Cyclone Dana's imminent arrival in Odisha, predicting heavy rainfall and strong winds from October 23 to 25. With the cyclone's landfall expected between Puri and Sagar Island,