Cyclone Ditwah, which has already caused significant destruction in Sri Lanka, is rapidly approaching the southeastern coast of India. Authorities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have issued red alerts and mobilized extensive disaster response measures, though the storm is now forecasted to pass offshore.
⚠️ Cyclone Track and Forecast for India
- Current Position (Saturday 10pm): Centred 80 km southeast of Vedaranyam and 100 km southeast of Karaikal.
- Forecasted Path: The cyclone is expected to travel north-northwest and be positioned over the southwest Bay of Bengal, approximately 25 km from the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline by Sunday evening, without making landfall.
- Wind Speed: Maximum sustained wind speed is currently 70 to 80 km/h and is expected to remain the same until Sunday morning.
- Impact: The storm is expected to cause:
- Storm Surge: Half a meter to 1 meter is likely overnight.
- Rainfall: Extremely heavy rain (exceeding 20 cm) is warned for Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Villuppuram, Chengalpattu districts, and the Puducherry-Karaikal region.
- Widespread Impact: Traffic disruption, inundation of low-lying areas, and damage to standing crops.
- Warnings: Fishermen have been warned not to venture out due to high sea conditions.
🇮🇳 India’s Preparedness
- Alerts: India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a Red Alert for parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
- Response Teams: 28 disaster response teams (including SDRF and NDRF units) were deployed across affected districts.
- Relief Camps: 6,000 relief camps were set up in Tamil Nadu.
- Transport Disruptions: 54 flights were cancelled at Chennai airport, and the railways activated a “war room.”
- Rainfall Forecast: Heavy rainfall is also forecasted for parts of Andhra Pradesh (November 30 to December 3) and isolated places in Telangana (Sunday).
🇱🇰 Devastation in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, which was directly in the storm’s path, has suffered catastrophic damage:
- Casualties: The death toll has reached 153, with 191 people still missing.
- Displacement: Over 20,000 homes were destroyed, and 108,000 people were moved to government shelters.
- Wider Impact: Another 798,000 people require assistance due to flooding.
- Response:
- A state of emergency was declared, and the President invoked emergency powers.
- Over 24,000 troops are engaged in rescue operations.
- India deployed two NDRF teams and delivered around 21 tonnes of relief materials under Operation Sagar Bandhu.
- Continuing Effects: While direct cyclone impacts have eased, the island nation still expects heavy rainfall (exceeding 100mm in some northern areas). Scores of central areas remain cut off due to lack of road access and mobile breakdowns.