NEW DELHI: The Odisha government has issued a flash flood warning for 16 districts of the state in the wake of Cyclone Dana's landfall. West Bengal and Odisha coasts are experiencing strong winds. Heavy rain is also continuing in areas including Bhadrak. No casualties have been reported so far. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said they are ready to face any situation in the state.

The storm is gusting at a speed of 110 km per hour and is causing heavy rain across the region. Located about 20 km north of Dhamra district, the wind will move west-northwest across North Odisha and intensify by noon today, the Met office said. Heavy rains have caused heavy damage in many areas including Vansaba, Bhadrak and Dhamra.

A holiday has been declared for schools and other educational institutions in Odisha and West Bengal on Friday in view of Cyclone Dana. Operations at Kolkata airport have been suspended from Thursday 6 pm to Friday 9 am and Bhubaneswar airport operations from Thursday 5 pm to Friday 9 am. Around 400 train services across the two states have been cancelled.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is monitoring the situation at the State Emergency Control Room in Bhubaneswar. He said that state ministers and all other officials are assessing the situation on the ground and ensuring that all arrangements are in place. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also monitoring the situation from the control room in Howrah.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Odisha Chief Minister over phone on Thursday night and inquired about the measures taken in the wake of Cyclone Dana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the Odisha government of all support and assistance from the Center to face the storm.

In Odisha, 5.84 lakh people have been evacuated so far as a precautionary measure following Cyclone Dana, the government said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that more than 3.5 lakh people have been relocated in West Bengal.