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.

West Bengal coast, both the states are all prepared to ensure safety. The storm is likely to make landfall between Bhitarkanika park and Dhamra port.

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 districts on alert are Angul, Puri, Nayagarh, Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, and Mayurbhanj.

Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall on October 25, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and dangerous conditions across large parts of eastern India.

Schools have been shut and over 150 trains cancelled as Odisha and West Bengal brace for Cyclone "Dana", which is likely to cross the coasts between Puri and Sagar Island in the early hours of October 25 with wind speeds of up to 120 kmph.

East Coast Railways cancels 178 trains as cyclone nears Odisha and Bengal; authorities begin large-scale evacuations; schools closed in coastal districts from October 23 to 26

It is expected to cross the northern Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island during the night of October 24 and the morning of October 25 as a severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds reaching 100-110 km/h.