From high temperatures to inflow of warm river water, India Today delves into the many factors that make the Bay of Bengal prone to cyclones as Dana nears.

Kolkata: More than 1.59 lakh people were evacuated from low-lying areas in West Bengal's coastal districts till Thursday afternoon and another two-lakh people were likely to be shifted as severe cyclone Dana with wind gusts of up to 120 km per hour was expected to make landfall between Thursday midnight and Friday morning on the east coast.

The deep depression over Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm, Dana and is likely to cross the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal as a severe cyclonic storm during October 24-25 with a wind speed of 100-110 km per hour gusting 120 km per hour, said India Meteorological Department on Wednesday (October 23, 2024)

It said the ICG has mobilised its vessels and aircraft, positioning them strategically to respond swiftly to any emergencies. The NDRF said it has deployed 13 teams so far across south Bengal to respond to any emergency.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that the administration identified over 3.5 lakh people to be evacuated from low-lying areas of the state in the wake of the approaching cyclone Dana.

Over a million people evacuated as India and Bangladesh brace for severe storm - Dana expected to hammer low-lying regions of West Bengal and Odisha, home to 150 million people

The cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall in Odisha and southern Bengal early Friday, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Odisha and West Bengal are evacuating around 12 lakh people ahead of severe cyclonic storm Dana, which is approaching the coast. Officials have expedited evacuations and set up cyclone centers, aiming for zero casualties amid heavy rainfall and rough.