Heavy rains lash Orissa as depression intensifies

Bhubaneswar, Aug 12 (UNI) Heavy rains lashed several parts of Coastal and North Orissa as a well marked low pressure area over North Bay of Bengal today intensified into a depression and lay centred 100 km east and south east of Balasore.

Met sources said the system was likely to intensify further and move in a west north westerly direction to cross the north Orissa and its adjoining West Bengal coast between Chandbali and Digha by tomorrow.

Under its impact, heavy to very heavy rains are likely to occur at a few places while extremely heavy rainfall has been forecast at isolated places in the next 24 hours.

The local cautionary signal number three had been hoisted at Gopalpur, Puri, Paradip and Chandbali ports and fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea as it would be very rough along and off Orissa coast.

Squally weather with wind speed reaching between 50 to 60 kmph would prevail along the coast during the next 24 hours.

UNI DP PL KD HT1552