India has been placed on high alert as Cyclone Ditwah, which has already caused devastating damage in Sri Lanka, continues its slow movement toward the Tamil Nadu coast. The storm has claimed more than 80 lives in Sri Lanka, prompting red and orange alerts across several districts in Tamil Nadu.
Slow-Moving Storm Brings Rain to South Tamil Nadu
On Friday, Cyclone Ditwah brought steady rainfall to southern districts of Tamil Nadu. Northern regions including Chennai are expected to experience intense showers over the weekend as the storm moves parallel to the coast.
The system crawled across Sri Lanka at an unusually slow pace, covering barely 70 km in 15 hours, with its wind speed dropping to nearly 3 kmph. Although it is likely to weaken into a deep depression by the time it approaches the Chennai coast on November 30, weather officials warn that the system could still generate widespread, heavy rainfall.
Cyclone Now 470 km South of Chennai
According to the IMD, the storm is positioned around 470 km south of Chennai and is expected to continue moving north-northwest across the Sri Lankan coastline before emerging over the southwest Bay of Bengal. It is forecast to reach the region near North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early morning on November 30.
Sri Lanka Devastation Triggers Relief Efforts
Cyclone Ditwah caused severe destruction in Sri Lanka, leaving more than 80 people dead. India has launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to assist the island nation, with the first batch of relief materials dispatched on the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and frontline ship INS Udaigiri.
IMD Issues Red and Orange Alerts
The IMD has issued:
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Red alert for extremely heavy rainfall (20 cm+ in 24 hours) on Saturday in four north coastal districts of Tamil Nadu.
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Orange alert for Chennai and 13 adjoining districts for heavy to very heavy rain (12–20 cm).
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Heavy rain forecasts for parts of Rayalaseema and south coastal Andhra from Saturday to Sunday.
Wind Speeds Expected to Intensify
P. Senthamarai Kannan, Director of the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, warned that wind speeds could rise to 70–80 kmph, gusting up to 90 kmph, particularly in the delta districts, Puducherry, and Karaikal. Andhra Pradesh has also activated control rooms and deployed disaster response forces.
High Alert Across TN & Andhra
Heavy rain is expected across the TN coast, with red alerts issued for several districts on Sunday as well. Authorities are continuously monitoring the storm’s trajectory and preparing for potential flooding, strong winds, and infrastructure disruptions.
