Bhubaneswar, Oct 24: Cyclone Dana has intensified and is now moving toward land, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The cyclone is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra in Odisha late Thursday night or early Friday morning, with a possibility of slightly recurve after hitting land.

Regional Meteorological Department Director Manorma Mohanty reported that the severe cyclonic storm is currently located 210 km southeast of Paradip and 290 km south-southeast of Dhamra, moving northwest at a speed of 15 km per hour for the past six hours. While the storm's trajectory remains consistent, it may recurve slightly to the west-southwest.

At landfall, wind speeds in the Balasore, Bhadrak, and Kendrapara districts are anticipated to reach 100 to 120 km per hour, potentially causing high tides, uprooted trees, downed electric poles, and damage to thatched houses. Heavy rainfall is expected over the next two days in several districts, prompting a red alert for Mayurbhanj, Kendrapara, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Cuttack. An orange alert has been issued for Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal, and Keonjhar, while a yellow alert is in place for Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Boudh, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, and Sambalpur.

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