Schools shut, tourists asked to leave as eastern India braces for cyclone

BHUBANESHWAR, India — 

Schools successful immoderate parts of India's eastbound authorities of Odisha were ordered to unopen and tourists asked to vacate the fashionable formation metropolis of Puri, arsenic authorities braced for a terrible cyclonic tempest that is expected to deed aboriginal this week.

Cyclone Dana, presently implicit the Bay of Bengal, is expected to fortify into a terrible cyclonic tempest with upwind speeds gusting up to 120 kph (74 mph), and is apt to marque landfall precocious connected Thursday, the upwind bureau said.

Schools successful 14 districts volition beryllium closed from Wednesday to Friday, and fishermen person been asked not to task into the sea, a elder authoritative from the Special Relief Commissioner's office, which oversees catastrophe management, told Reuters.

Tourists and pilgrims who predominant the coastal metropolis of Puri, location to the celebrated Jagannath temple, person been asked to leave, officials said, portion rescue teams were connected standby.

Heavy to highly dense rainfall successful Odisha was apt successful the adjacent 3 days, the upwind bureau said, and the ensuing tempest could harm houses, roads, crops, and powerfulness lines, causing flooding and landslides.

Odisha is prone to cyclones, but has improved catastrophe preparedness implicit time, reducing harm and casualties.