Cyclone Ditwah continues to be a major threat to India’s eastern coast, moving closer to the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline after leaving a path of devastation in Sri Lanka, where the death toll has now risen above 200.
The severe weather system is expected to move nearly northwards, paralleling the North Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coasts over the next 24 hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that the cyclone will be centered over the Bay of Bengal, coming within a minimum distance of just 25 km from the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline by Sunday evening (November 30, 2025).
⚠️ India: High Alert with Heavy Rainfall and Fatalities
Sharp showers triggered by Cyclone Ditwah continue to lash several parts of Tamil Nadu.
- Fatalities and Damage in Tamil Nadu: Three people have died in rain-related incidents in Tamil Nadu. Two deaths were due to wall collapses in Thanjavur and Thoothukudi districts, and one death was due to electrocution in Mayiladuthurai district. Approximately 57,000 hectares of farmland, including 24,000 hectares in Nagapattinam, have been affected by flooding.
- Rainfall Forecast: Heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall, is likely over Coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal over the next 24 hours. This includes Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Ranipet districts.
- Wind Warning: Strong surface winds reaching speeds of 60–70 kmph, gusting up to 80 kmph, are likely to prevail over the North Coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
- Preparedness: A total of 38 disaster response teams, including SDRF and NDRF, are on standby. An NDRF team has also been deployed in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, as a precautionary measure. Chennai Airport has cancelled 47 flights for Sunday.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka: Humanitarian Crisis and International Aid
Cyclone Ditwah has caused catastrophic floods, landslides, and widespread devastation in Sri Lanka.
- Death Toll and Missing: The death toll has crossed 200. Other reports put the figure around 153 deaths and over 191 people missing.
- Emergency Measures: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared a state of emergency to speed up relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts. More than 78,000 people have been moved to nearly 800 relief centers.
- ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’: India has launched a massive humanitarian assistance mission, ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu,’ and is aiding rescue efforts. The Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and frontline ship INS Udaygiri delivered initial relief materials. Indian air and ground teams, including NDRF personnel and helicopters, are conducting joint rescue operations alongside Sri Lankan forces.
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