NEW DELHI, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The depression over Bay of Bengal and Equatorial Indian Ocean intensified into a cyclonic storm on Saturday, India's Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

"Yesterday's depression over east Equatorial Indian Ocean and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards, intensified into a deep depression in the early morning today," a statement issued by IMD said.

"Moving further northwestwards, it intensified into cyclonic storm FANI over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining, about 880 km east-southeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 1,250 km southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 1,460 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

According to IMD, it is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours.

"It is very likely to move northwestwards off Sri Lanka coast during next 72 hours and reach near north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts on Tuesday evening and gradually recurve northeastwards thereafter," the IMD said.

The IMD has warned of light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Kerala on Monday and Tuesday. Likewise, light to moderate rainfall at few places over north coastal Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The sea condition is high in the region and is very likely to become very high on Sunday.

Meanwhile, fishermen have been advised not to venture into deep sea areas of the region during this period.