Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said more than 30 per cent of the targeted 10 lakh people have been evacuated to safe places in view of cyclone Dana that barrels toward the state's coastal region, threatening to impact nearly half of its population. He reviewed the state’s preparedness for the cyclone which is likely to cross the Odisha coast, close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamra, early on Friday.

“Three districts are likely to be severely affected. Steps are being taken to evacuate people from danger zones...So far, 30 per cent of the targeted 10 lakh people have been evacuated...the remaining will be taken to safety by 11 am on Thursday,” the CM said. The government had on Tuesday set a target to evacuate 10,60,336 people from 14 districts.