Cyclone Dana set to barrel into eastern India, Bangladesh

23/10/2024 17:43

        Authorities cancelled trains, warned fishermen not to venture out to sea and prepared to evacuate people in vulnerable locations on Wednesday, a day before a severe cyclonic storm was set to barrel into the eastern coast of India and Bangladesh.
        
        Cyclone Dana, currently over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds gusting up to 120 kph, and is likely to make landfall late on Thursday, hitting the eastern coast of India and the southern coast of Bangladesh, India's weather office said.
        
        More than 200 trains were cancelled in India's Odisha, a state prone to cyclones, and officials said preparations were being made to evacuate people who live in vulnerable areas.
        
        Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is expected in Odisha over the next three days, the weather office warned, adding that the storm could damage homes, roads, crops, and power lines, leading to flooding and landslides.