Saturday, July 30 2005 16:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: Heavy rains continued to lash Orissa as the depression over the north west Bay of Bengal, off Balasore coast, intensified into a deep depression and remained stationary, the Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC) here said today (July 30, 2005).

The system was likely to move in a west, north westerly direction, Director of the center, S C Sahu said.

Heavy to very heavy rains were forecast for the state during the next 24 hours. Squally weather would continue and wind, speed reaching 50 to 60 km per hour, was likely to prevail along and off the coastal belt, he said.

Fishermen had been advised against venturing into the sea, while local cautionary signal number three had been kept hoisted at Paradip, Chandbali, Puri and Gopalpur.