Cyclone Ditwah LIVE updates: After delta, south coastal districts, Ditwah to batter north T.N.

Cyclone Ditwah LIVE updates: 3 killed in rain-related incidents in T.N.; 57,000 hectares of farmland affected, says Minister

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The IAF has deployed another C-130J transport aircraft as part of India's humanitarian assistance extended to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu, and positioned Mi-17 V5 helicopters in Colombo for swift relief operations, officials said.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has stepped up its efforts to assist the island nation in its hour of crisis in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah that has left a trail of destruction.

The aircraft, carrying equipment meant for a National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) team deployed as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, landed in Colombo on Sunday, a senior official said.

This transport aircraft will now be used to bring back Indian citizens, who have got stranded in that country, the official said.

The IAF also shared an update related to the ongoing operation on its X handle.

“#OperationSagarBandhu | IAF Humanitarian Assistance As part of India's ongoing relief efforts in Sri Lanka, the Indian Air Force has positioned Mi-17 V5 helicopters in Colombo for swift HADR operations,” it said.

- PTI

Three people have died in rain-related incidents in three districts in Tamil Nadu since Saturday (November 29, 2025) evening as Cyclone Ditwah brought torrential rains to the State.

While two persons died due to wall collapse in Thanjavur and Thoothukudi districts, one died due to electrocution in Mayiladuthurai district, the State Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran said on Sunday (November 30) morning. Over 2,300 people have been accommodated in 38 relief camps in nine districts, he said.

Three people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Tamil Nadu, Minister KKSSR Ramachandran said on Sunday.

As many as 149 cattle died and 57,000 hectares of farmland have been affected in the delta districts, the Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management said.

“Three people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents since last evening. While two persons died due to wall collapse in Tuticorin and Thanjavur, respectively, a 20-year-old youth died due to electrocution in Mayiladuthurai,” he said while briefing reporters at the State Emergency Operations Centre.

Giving a break up of the impact caused to agricultural lands in delta districts, the Minister said 24,000 hectares of land were affected in Nagapattinam, 15,000 hectares in Thiruvarur and 8,000 hectares in Mayiladuthurai. “In total, 57,000 hectares of agriculture lands have been submerged due to heavy rainfall,” he said.

Responding to a query, he said, nearly 234 huts have been damaged in the delta districts.

PTI

Flood alerts have been issued for most of the eastern suburbs in Sri Lanka's capital here on Sunday morning, officials said as the island nation reels from catastrophic floods, landslides and devastation from Cyclone Ditwah.

Colombo District Secretary Prasanna Ginige said the alerts were issued due to River Kelani rising to dangerous levels. He said schools in the danger areas are being used as relief centres for the flood displaced.

People have been warned to evacuate. However, the officials lamented a marked reluctance on their part to heed warnings.

-PTI

According to the latest update from Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre, the death toll from the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah stands at 193.

-Meera Srinivasan

Cyclone Ditwah brewing in the Bay of Bengal brought moderate rainfall in Puducherry region of the Union Territory on Saturday (November 29, 2025) night.

The region, which started receiving intermittent rain from Saturday afternoon continued to experience moderate rainfall till Sunday (November 30) morning. An official in the Revenue Department said the territory has received around 7. 53 cm of rainfall during last 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Sunday.

Though no major inundation was reported in the town, Papama Koil Road witnessed waterlogging on Saturday evening but authorities immediately drained out the rain water. The authorities have shifted families belonging to Irular community residing in Karuvadikuppam and Moolakulam to temporary shelters as their settlements are prone to waterlogging. Puducherry District Collector A. Kulothungan inspected the relief camp near the airport on Sunday morning.

Cyclone Ditwah brings moderate rainfall to Puducherry, prompting red alert and precautionary rescue measures for affected communities.

A 20-year-old woman died and three members of her family sustained injuries after a portion of their dilapidated tiled house collapsed onto an adjoining asbestos-roof structure at Alamankurichi Udaiyar Street near Kumbakonam late on Saturday (November 29, 2025).

As the tiled house had been in a deteriorated condition, the family had been sleeping in the asbestos-roof structure. Due to continuous heavy rain, a wall of the old house collapsed around 11.30 p.m. and fell onto the asbestos-roof building where the family was sleeping.

Cyclone Ditwah moved at a speed of 12 kmph and lies over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts, about 100 km east-southeast of Cuddalore, 110 km southeast of Puducherry and 180 km south-southeast of Chennai.

It is likely to move northwards parallel to North T.N.-Puducherry coasts during next 24 hours. It will be centered over southwest Bay of Bengal within 60 km from the T.N.-Puducherry coast by today afternoon.

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As part of preparedness for Cyclone Ditwah, 16 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams and 12 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in coastal districts while 1,185 rescue boats have been kept ready, said Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Earlier on Saturday (November 29) evening, Mr. Stalin visited the State Emergency Operations Centre in Chennai and took stock of the situation and preparedness in various districts.

He said, arrangements have been made to deploy 10 more teams of the NDRF in various parts of the State besides the 12 NDRF teams deployed across Tamil Nadu.

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Rains triggered by Cyclone Ditwah continued in several parts of Tamil Nadu as it is expected to move parallel to the coastline of northern parts of the state and neighbouring Puducherry in the next 24 hours, the weather office said on Sunday.

With heavy rainfall pounding Cauvery delta districts in the state, Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam districts bore the brunt.

Normal life continued to be affected in the coastal towns of Rameswaram and Nagapattinam as heavy rainfall inundated several low lying areas.

As per the latest bulletin by the Regional Meteorological Department issued on Sunday, the cyclone moved nearly northwards with a speed of 5 kmph and it is located about 80 km east of Karaikal, 100 km northeast of Vedaraniyam, 160 km southeast of Puducherry and 250 km south of Chennai.

PTI

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for several districts across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, including Chennai, for the next three hours on Sunday till 10 a.m., warning of light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning as Cyclone Ditwah continues to influence weather conditions along the country's east coast.

In its notice, the IMD stated that light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is very likely to take place in a few places over the Ariyalur, Chengalpattu, Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Kancheepuram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagappattinam, Perambalur, Ranipet, Thanjavur, Nilgiris, Thiruvallur, Thiruvarur, Tiruppur, Tiruvannamalai, and Viluppuram districts of Tamil Nadu, as well as in areas of Puducherry and Karaikal.

ANI

On five streets in Kotturpuram, one would expect the script to be different and refreshingly distinct. Post-Ditwah, the fallen leaves would not leave the streets. The heaps would be deposited inside 27 leaf litter bins stationed by the five streets, and allowed to turn into compost, with periodic watering by a gardener to aid the composting process. The compost, harvested in cycles, will be distributed to residents, who will use it for their plants, thereby closing the loop.

The IMD on Sunday said the cyclonic storm Ditwah moved over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts nearly northwards with the speed of 7 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday.

The IMD in a post on X said it is very likely to move nearly northwards parallel to North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts during next 24 hours.

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Light to moderate rain with thunderstorm and lightning very likely in Ariyalur, Chengalpattu, Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Kancheepuram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Perambalur, Ranipet, Thanjavur, Nilgiris, Thiruvallur, Tiruppur, Thiruvannamalai, Viluppuram districts of Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry and Karaikal area, according to RMC, Chennai.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar offering all necessary support from the State for the Indians stranded at the Colombo airport due to Cyclone Ditwah.

Mr. Vijayan, in his letter on Saturday, said the cyclone has caused severe disruptions at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, stranding nearly 300 Indian passengers, many of whom are from Kerala.

He said the Indian passengers have been stuck there for the last three days without adequate food, water and basic facilities.

The Chief Minister said many of the passengers were using Colombo as a pit stop for return journeys to home or going abroad and are in crisis at present.

PTI

In view of Cyclone Ditwah bearing down on Tamil Nadu, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed preparedness measures on Saturday to ensure minimum disruption to rail services and passenger safety.

The coastal areas expected to be hit by the impending cyclone fall mainly under the Southern Railway zone.

“A dedicated network of helplines and passenger-assistance desks must be established to support travellers facing uncertainties due to cancellations or rerouting,” a press statement from the Railway Ministry said.

It added that Mr. Vaishnaw has reaffirmed the commitment of the Indian Railways to public safety.

The Minister has instructed the officials concerned to ensure that war rooms are activated at the divisional, zonal and Railway Board levels to monitor the situation and remain alert for any extreme scenario.

“He has also asked railway officials to coordinate with civil-administration authorities and proactively communicate with passengers until normalcy is restored,” the statement said.

PTI

Cyclone Ditwah brings light showers to Tirupati, Nellore, and Chittoor; heavy rainfall expected as storm approaches Andhra Pradesh coast.

Karaikal (19 cm), Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur (11 cm each) Cuddalore (10 cm), Mayiladuthurai (15 cm) and Pamban (9cm) were among the places that received heavy rainfall till 5.30 a.m. today.

-K. Lakshmi

Water discharge from Chennai's key reservoirs was scaled down at 6 a.m. on Sunday. The outflow from the Red Hills reservoir has been reduced from 1,500 cusecs to 1,000 cusecs, while the Chembarambakkam reservoir reduced its discharge from 3,000 cusecs to 2,250 cusecs. Both reservoirs recorded rainfall of 2 cm till 6 a.m.

-K. Lakshmi

India intensified humanitarian assistance and disaster response under Operation Sagar Bandhu on Saturday (November 29, 2025) for Sri Lanka as the island nation continued to deal with the aftermath of devastating Cyclone Ditwah which has left at least 159 persons dead. India has deployed INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri to assist the affected families and sent two large cargo aircraft carrying 21 tonnes of relief materials to Colombo.

In addition to the two ships, INS Sukanya left Vishakhapatnam with relief material and is expected to reach Sri Lanka soon, said official sources. High Commission of India in Colombo is helping stranded Indian passengers at Bandaranaike International Airport after flights were cancelled. They are being provided food, water and other assistance by Commission's officials.

Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams comprising 80 rescuers and four trained canines, led byP. K. Tiwary, Commandant, 8th Battalion, flew out from the Hindon Air Force Station early on Saturday on an Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft bound for Colombo. These teams are equipped with inflatable boats, hydraulic cutting and breaching tools, advanced communication gear, first-aid kits, and other essential rescue equipment to conduct search, rescue and humanitarian relief operations in affected areas of Sri Lanka. Indian Navy helicopters rescued several persons from flood-affected areas on Saturday, said the official spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry.

India amplifies relief efforts for Sri Lanka post-Cyclone Ditwah, deploying naval ships and NDRF teams for humanitarian assistance.

Cyclone Ditwah triggers alerts in Tamil Nadu as strong winds and heavy rainfall forecast, recalling past cyclonic patterns.

Cyclone Ditwah moved at a speed of 5 kmph and lay centred over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu coasts at 2.30 a.m. on Sunday, about 160 km south-southeast of Puducherry and 250 km south of Chennai.

It is very likely to move nearly northwards parallel to North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts during next 24 hours. The cyclone will be centered over southwest Bay of Bengal within 50 km from the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline by Sunday morning.

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Published - November 30, 2025 06:44 am IST

Live news / rains / cyclones / weather / Sri Lanka / Tamil Nadu / Andhra Pradesh

Source: TheHindu
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