As Cyclone 'Dana' barrels toward the Odisha coast, threatening to impact nearly half the state's population, the government is racing against time to execute a massive evacuation plan aimed at relocating around 10 lakh people in 14 districts to safety.

With Cyclone Dana on the horizon, Odisha's beaches have emptied as authorities restrict access in preparation for its impact. Expected to bring heavy rain and tidal waves, the cyclone's landfall is anticipated near Bhitarkanika National Park.

Bhubaneswar/Kolkata: The Odisha and West Bengal governments on Wednesday said they have made arrangements for evacuation of two million people from the areas to be hit by Cyclone Dhana, which is expected to make a landfall on Thursday late night or Friday earning morning between Bhitarkanika National Park-Dhamra port in Odisha and Sagar Island in West Bengal.

As per IMD forecast, cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district and Dhamra port in Bhadrak district on Thursday night or Friday morning as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph.

Cyclone 'Dana' is rapidly approaching Odisha, prompting the state's government to initiate a large-scale evacuation plan. An estimated 10 lakh people in 14 districts are to be relocated. Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall with winds up to 120 kmph,

The IMD predicted on Wednesday that the storm will bring heavy rainfall to several Odisha and West Bengal districts in the next three days.

The depression over the Bay of Bengal now lies 730 km southeast of Paradip and is likely to make a landfall between Odisha's Puri and West Bengal's Sagar Island by Thursday

President Droupadi Murmu's scheduled visit to Odisha, set for Wednesday, has been postponed due to the approaching cyclone.

Due to an impending cyclone, fishermen in Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts have anchored their boats as wind speeds are expected to rise to 100-