Residents of high-rises have been advised to remove all potted plants, tubs and loose items from balconies and window ledges so nothing can fly off and act as missiles when hit by gusty winds triggered by Cyclone Dana.

They have also been asked to park their vehicles in gear and activate the handbrakes. The elevators should be parked on upper floors so they don’t get stalled in case water enters the lift shafts.

The residents of high-rises and housing complexes have also been asked to jam the sliding windows and doors by placing cloth pieces or other items in the slider channels.

The police have advised the residents’ welfare associations of housing estates to get in touch with the local police station if they need any assistance. The residents have also been advised to dial 100 if there is any emergency.

Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall on the Odisha coast between Thursday night and Friday morning.

At South City, on Prince Anwar Shah Road, the residents’ body has decided to tie the doors and windows in common areas, such as lobbies, with ropes so they do not swing wildly during the storm.

Manoj Gupta, who lives in an apartment on the 20th floor, said residents have been advised to keep nothing on the balconies that can act as missiles and fly off during the storm.

“The entire Durga Puja pandal has been dismantled and the bamboo poles and plywood boards have been removed,” said Gupta.

At Urbana, around 700m from the Ruby intersection, where some towers have 40 floors and some 45, residents have formed a disaster management committee and set up a standard operating procedure to be followed during the storm.

Nitin Maheswari, who lives on the 33rd floor of tower 2, said the housing society has issued detailed guidelines for the residents.

“We have been asked to park our vehicles in designated basement parking slots. We have also been asked to remove flower pots from balconies and terraces and all windows must be kept shut,” said Maheswari.

In New Town, where there are several multi-storey complexes, the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has issued a set of guidelines.

The residents have been asked to not spread rumours, keep the batteries of phones charged and torches handy. They have been advised against touching any metal object during the storm and stepping out when Dana makes landfall.

At Rosedale Garden, near Karigori Bhavan in NewTown, where each tower has 25 floors, residents have been asked to keep their mobile phones charged, torches handy and doors and windows closed during the storm.

“Residents have been asked to stow away anything that can become a projectile during the cyclone. They have also been asked to avoid stepping out during the storm and touching any electric pole,” said Ranjan Bose, the president of the residents’ welfare association of the housing complex.

Additional portable pumps have been arranged to drain out water from the basement parking lot.