Heavy rain and high winds lashed parts of eastern India on Friday as a tropical storm hit coastal areas and rescue teams on high alert braced for its impact.

Cyclone Dana has hit the coast of Odisha in eastern India, bringing heavy rains and strong winds to parts of the state on Friday morning. Dana – which means pearl in Arabic – had been brewing over the Bay of Bengal for the past few days.

The severe cyclonic storm 'Dana' is expected to make landfall between the Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha early on Friday with wind speeds