Cyclone Dana is forming in the East-Central Bay of Bengal and is expected to strengthen before making landfall near Puri on October 24, with its name symbolizing 'a beautiful and precious pearl' in Arabic.

Cyclone Dana is forecasted to hit between Puri in Odisha and Sagar Island in West Bengal as a severe cyclonic storm on Thursday night, bringing heavy

Cyclone Dana is likely to hit Odisha coast on October 24 In the wake of the heavy rainfall, the Odisha government urged tourists not to visit holy town Puri until the cyclone makes landfall.

The Odisha government issued an advisory for tourists and urged them to leave Puri soon in view of Cyclone Dana.

IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the system is expected to evolve into a powerful cyclonic storm, with significant to extremely heavy rainfall expected in parts of Odisha starting October 23.