India, Aug. 14 -- Heavy rain lashed Odisha as the low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal intensified into a "depression" on Thursday and triggered flood fears in the northern districts.

The IMD, which had on Thursday morning issued a 'red warning' (take action) of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across Odisha, has categorised the state under 'orange' (be prepared to take action) and 'yellow' (be aware) categories, predicting heavy rainfall till 8.30 am on Friday.

The weather agency, in a bulletin issued at 8.30 pm, said, "The well-marked low-pressure area over coastal West Bengal and adjoining areas of Bangladesh and northwest Bay of Bengal, moved northwestwards, concentrated into a depression."

"It is very likely to continue to...