Cyclonic storm Ditwah continued to advance towards the north Tamil Nadu– Puducherry coast on Saturday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for some parts. Warning has also been issued for intense rainfall, rough seas, flooding and travel disruptions across the southern states. The storm has already wrought havoc in neighbouring Sri Lanka, where 123 people have been killed and 130 people reported missing, as per the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
In its latest bulletin on X, the IMD stated, “The Cyclonic Storm Ditwah (Pronunciation: Ditwah) over coastal Sri Lanka and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards towards with a speed of 8 kmph during the past 6 hours.” It further added that at 5:30 am it was centred near 9.4°N and 80.7°E, about 80 km east-southeast of Jaffna, 190 km from Karaikal, 300 km from Puducherry and 400 km south of Chennai.
The IMD stated that the system is “very likely to continue to move north-northwestwards and reach over the southwest Bay of Bengal near Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts early morning by 30th November.”
#WATCH | Nagore, Tamil Nadu | High tides, strong winds and rainfall hit the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu as cyclone Ditwah moves closer. pic.twitter.com/xRHD6FppWD
— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2025
Heavy rainfall, flooding and crop damage warning
IMD Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told ANI that the cyclone may intensify slightly after re-entering the Bay of Bengal. He also warned that “heavy to extremely heavy rainfall” could trigger urban flooding, flash flood-like situations in hilly areas and waterlogging. Strong winds, he added, may uproot trees, impact kutcha houses, damage hoardings, while ripening crops may face the possibility of damage.
54 flights cancelled, schools shut
Chennai Airport officials stated that 54 flights have been cancelled across multiple routes, with 16 flights between Chennai-Thoothukudi-Trichy-Madurai and 16 return services suspended. Another 22 flights from Trichy, Madurai, and Puducherry to Bengaluru and Hyderabad were cancelled. All small aircraft services from key Tamil Nadu airports continue to be suspended till Sunday, as per a report by ANI.
In Villupuram district, schools were directed to be closed as officials identified 103 vulnerable locations. Authorities have kept JCBs ready, stocked 12,700 electric poles for emergency restoration work and have deployed 55 boats.
India sends aid to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, which experienced severe destruction during Ditwah’s passage, has reported 123 deaths, and dozens are still missing. India has commenced large-scale humanitarian assistance. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar posted on X, “ #OperationSagarBandhu unfolds. IAF C-130J plane carrying around 12 tons of humanitarian aid, including tents, blankets, hygiene kits, tarpaulins and ready-to eat-food items lands in Colombo.” Around 300 Indian passengers, including about 150 Tamilians flying from Dubai to India through Sri Lanka, have been stranded at Colombo’s Bandaranaike Airport for the last three days due to the Cyclone.
An official spokesperson, as quoted by PTI, stated that India has deployed 80 NDRF personnel and specialised search dogs to Sri Lanka to support rescue and relief efforts after the severe flooding triggered by Cyclone.
The IMD forecast Ditwah will weaken gradually after November 30, but cautioned that the period until Sunday remains the most critical for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh.
