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

Flights to and from the capital cities of India's eastern states of Odisha and West Bengal, consisting of Kolkata, will be suspended from Thursday evening to Friday morning as the region braces for a cyclone set to strike throughout that time, officials stated.

Cyclone 'Dana', currently over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to cross the coasts of the states in between midnight and Friday early morning with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph (62-68 mph),. gusting as much as 120 kph (75 mph), the weather department said. Both states have closed schools in the areas that are anticipated. to be bear the brunt of the storm and asked fishermen not to. endeavor out to sea.

Television footage revealed fishermen hurrying to protect their. straw homes and boats with ropes, and officials escorting. residents in coastal 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 likewise suspended operations.

We have left roughly 50,000 people so far, and a. overall of around 300,000 people are most likely to be left,. Unique Relief Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh told Reuters.

Neighbouring West Bengal state has also provided a red alert. for three districts situated near the area where the cyclone. is expected to make landfall, officials said.

The state's capital city of Kolkata stayed overcast on. Thursday with brief spells of rain.

Severe storms lash seaside cities in India and neighbouring. Bangladesh throughout the cyclone season from April to December each. year, causing extensive damage.

Odisha's worst cyclone in recent years was in 1999, which. raved for 30 hours and killed 10,000 individuals.

At least 16 people were killed when a

cyclone lashed

India and Bangladesh in May, packing speeds of up to 135. kmph.

(source: Reuters)