Kolkata: Over 1.1 million people from India's eastern coastal states of West Bengal and Odisha are being evacuated to storm shelters as Cyclone Dana approaches. The powerful cyclone is expected to make landfall late Thursday, bringing winds gusting up to 120 km/h (74 mph), according to India's weather bureau.

The storm is predicted to hit near the coal-exporting port of Dhamara, approximately 230 kilometers southwest of Kolkata, with the eye of the storm likely to land early Friday morning.

Authorities have shut major airports, including Kolkata, and ordered businesses in popular tourist destinations like Puri to close. Heavy rains are already hitting the region, with water surges predicted to inundate coastal areas by up to two meters above normal tide levels.

Neighboring Bangladesh is also bracing for impact, with the interim government leader Muhammad Yunus reporting "extensive preparations" to mitigate damage.

Odisha state health minister Mukesh Mahaling stated that nearly a million people are being evacuated to safety, while in West Bengal, more than 100,000 people have already been relocated.

Cyclones are a frequent threat in the northern Indian Ocean, and scientists warn that climate change is intensifying these storms.