In a hasty effort to protect millions, India is racing against time, evacuating nearly 1.5 million people from the vulnerable eastern states of Odisha and West Bengal. The fearsome Cyclone Dana is closing in, with landfall expected in less than 24 hours!

Authorities are leaving no stone unturned: thousands of relief workers have been mobilized, and emergency shelters are springing up across the region to shield those directly in the cyclone’s deadly path.

The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a stark warning—the storm is set to unleash violent winds of 100-120 km/h (62-74 mph) and trigger a deluge of heavy rainfall.

The cyclone’s approach has already crippled transportation networks, with over 200 trains and dozens of flights grounded. Bhubaneswar and Kolkata airports are at a standstill, bracing for impact.

Odisha’s Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, is urging calm but insists the state is fully prepared for what’s coming, evacuating more than a million residents to safety, while West Bengal scrambles to relocate over 300,000 from its coastal frontlines.

“We are fully prepared to deal with the storm. Don’t panic, be safe and be careful,” Majhi told the media.

In a stark advisory, fishermen have been strictly prohibited from entering the turbulent waters. Meanwhile, Paradip Port in Odisha has triggered emergency protocols to protect both staff and surrounding communities.

The region is no stranger to calamity—memories of the catastrophic 1999 cyclone, which claimed over 10,000 lives, are still fresh. Just last year, another storm took at least 16 lives in India and Bangladesh. The next 24 hours could be critical for millions. Will history repeat itself, or will India’s defenses hold strong? The nation waits with bated breath.