Odisha fishermen advised not to venture into sea

Bhubaneswar, Aug 17 (IANS) Fishermen in Odisha have been asked not to venture into the sea by the weather department that has warned of rough to very rough seas.

The Met Department said the height of sea waves may reach 3-4 metres due to a depression over the Bay of Bengal.

"Strong gusty surface wind from the northwesterly direction with speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting 65 kmph may prevail along and off Odisha coast. Sea condition would be rough to very rough in Odisha coast," said the Met centre.

A low pressure which formed off the Odisha coast has turned into a depression and is likely to cause heavy rainfall by Thursday afternoon, the Met centre added.

"The depression over the north Bay of Bengal has moved northwestwards and lay centreed at about 160 km east of Balasore. The system is likely to move west-northwestwards and cross West Bengal coast close to Digha by evening", said the meteorological centre here.

"Rain or thundershower very likely to occur at most places over North Odisha and many places over South Odisha during next 24 hours," the Met department said.

It said heavy to very heavy rainfall was likely to occur at one or two places over north Odisha and heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of south Odisha during the next 24 hours.