Tropical Storm Dana is expected to intensify, bringing winds of 100-110 kph (62-68 mph) and gusts up to 120 kph (74 mph), as it pushes toward the country’s eastern coastline, where it is set to make landfall late Thursday and early Friday, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.

Authorities in India are evacuating nearly 1.5 million people from the path of an approaching cyclone in the eastern states of Odisha (formerly Orissa) and West Bengal. Thousands of relief workers have been deployed to minimise damage from Cyclone Dana, which is expected to make landfall in the next 24 hours.

At least 10 lakh people on India's eastern coast are taking shelter ahead of Cyclone Dana, predicted to make landfall early Friday morning. The cyclone, classified as a "severe cyclonic storm," is expected to hit the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha,