Heavy rains lashed the coastal belt of Orissa as a deep depression over west central Bay of Bengal moved closer and lay centred about 250km southeast of Gopalpur, MET sources said in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

The deep depression is likely to intensify further and move in a northwesterly direction and cross the north Andhra Pradesh-south Orissa coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip by Sunday morning.

It is expected to cause heavy to very heavy rainfall along coastal Andhra Pradesh and Orissa during the next 48 hours. Gale speed reaching 65 to 70km/hr is also likely along the coast while the sea would be rough to very rough.

The strong wind may cause damage to thatched houses, uproot trees and disrupt power supply and communication network.

MET authorities have advised fishermen not to venture into the sea, the sources said.

The depression might assist the southwest monsoon to further advance into Orissa.