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Flights suspended at India's Kolkata, Odisha state as cyclone approaches

Flights to and from the capital cities of India's eastern states of Odisha and West Bengal, including Kolkata, will be suspended from Thursday night to Friday morning as the region braces for a cyclone set to strike during that time, authorities said.

Cyclone 'Dana', currently over the Bay of Bengal, is anticipated to cross the coasts of the states between midnight and Friday morning with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph (62-68 mph),. gusting as much as 120 kph (75 miles per hour), the weather condition department stated.

Both states have actually closed schools in the areas that are. expected to be bear the impact of the storm and asked fishermen. not to venture out to sea.

Television video footage showed fishermen hurrying to secure their. straw homes and boats with ropes, and authorities escorting. homeowners in seaside locations to shelters as heavy winds and rains. pounded parts of Odisha on Thursday.

The Adani group's Dhamra port in the state's. Bhadrak region has actually also suspended operations.

We have evacuated approximately 50,000 people so far, and a. overall of around 300,000 people are likely to be left,. Special Relief Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh informed Reuters.

Neighbouring West Bengal state has also issued a red alert. for 3 districts located near to the area where the cyclone. is expected to make landfall, authorities stated.

The state's capital city of Kolkata remained overcast on. Thursday with short spells of rain.

Severe storms lash seaside cities in India and neighbouring. Bangladesh during the cyclone season from April to December each. year, triggering comprehensive damage.

Odisha's worst cyclone over the last few years remained in 1999, which. raged for 30 hours and killed 10,000 people.

A minimum of 16 individuals were eliminated when a cyclone lashed India. and Bangladesh in May, packaging speeds of up to 135 kmph.

(source: Reuters)