A severe cyclonic storm is set to pummel the coasts of India and Bangladesh on Thursday, spurring authorities to cancel train services, warn fishermen to stay home and begin evacuating thousands of people from vulnerable sites.

Authorities in India and Bangladesh brace for Cyclone Dana, which is set to hit the eastern and southern coasts with wind speeds up to 120 kph. Preparations include cancelling trains, evacuating people,

Thousands of residents evacuated their homes on India’s east coast on Wednesday as a cyclone hurtled towards land with wind speeds expected to reach 100kph. Cyclone Dana, named by Qatar and meaning "generosity" in Arabic,

Authorities cancelled trains, warned fishermen not to venture out to sea and prepared to evacuate people in vulnerable locations on Wednesday, a day before a severe cyclonic storm was set to barrel into the eastern coast of India and Bangladesh.