Bhubaneswar, Oct 21: The Odisha government on Monday issued an advisory asking tourists to vacate the pilgrim town of Puri soon due to the impeding Cyclone Dana, which is like to hit the Odisha coast by October 25.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari issued the advisory after a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi this evening.

"The tourists who have come to Puri should leave the seaside pilgrim town soon as the district is likely to be affected by the severe cyclonic storm," Pujari said.

The Minister also said that the Puri district administration has also been asked to discourage people from visiting the pilgrim town from Tuesday till after the cyclone makes landfall as it could cause damage.

Meanwhile, the Puri district administration erected red flags along the sea beach on Monday and prohibited everyone from entering the sea.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) today predicted that a severe cyclonic storm with wind speed of 100-120 kmph slated to hit the Odisha coast between Puri to Bhadrak during the night of October 24 and the early morning of October 25.

The IMD issued a red warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall over several coastal districts in the State on October 24 and 25.

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