Cyclone Ditwah: TN, Puducherry & Andhra on red alert; flights cancelled, schools shut as landfall likely today

Cyclone Ditwah

Cyclone Ditwah continued its slow advance toward the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, prompting a red alert as heavy rainfall lashed the region.

According to a report by news18, IMD projections indicate that the storm will track almost parallel to the North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline over the next 24 hours, coming within 50 km by early Sunday morning and narrowing to just 25 km by Sunday evening. The storm is expected to make landfall today, November, 30.

The IMD has issued a red alert for multiple districts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, warning of extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds. Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, and Chengalpattu—as well as the Puducherry–Karaikal region—are expected to face the most severe impact. Several southern and delta districts in Tamil Nadu are already witnessing intense downpours, with conditions likely to worsen as the system draws nearer.

Though the storm is currently generating winds of 70–80 kmph and does not meet the criteria for an extremely severe cyclone, officials caution that its slow movement and closeness to the coast may amplify its effects. “These wind speeds are not that high, but they can have large-scale impact on standing crops,” IMD Director General M. Mohapatra noted. “Low-lying areas may be inundated. A storm surge of half a metre to one metre is likely tonight.”

In anticipation of the cyclone’s impact, Tamil Nadu has deployed 28 disaster response teams and set up 6,000 relief camps across vulnerable districts. The state government is reviewing contingency plans, preparing shelters, and coordinating with local bodies as it braces for its second major weather event this month.

Five teams from the 6 BN NDRF—equipped with FWR and CSSR gear—have been airlifted from Vadodara, Gujarat, to Chennai for immediate deployment in Tamil Nadu given the evolving situation.

The cyclone’s approach follows catastrophic flooding in neighbouring Sri Lanka, where at least 153 people have died and nearly 200 others remain missing after heavy rains associated with Ditwah earlier in the week.

Precautionary measures have been heightened in Chennai and surrounding coastal cities. Chennai airport cancelled 54 flights on Saturday and has announced 47 cancellations for Sunday, including 36 domestic and 11 international services. Officials warn that further changes may follow and advise passengers to check with their airlines. Railways have activated a dedicated war room to track disruptions and deploy rapid repair teams when required.

Cyclone Ditwah is the 14th tropical depression and the fourth named storm of the 2025 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. It developed over the southwest Bay of Bengal near Sri Lanka and intensified quickly as it moved north-northwest, tracking close to India’s eastern coastline.

As of 10 p.m. on Saturday, the system was located 80 km southeast of Vedaranyam, 100 km southeast of Karaikal, 190 km south-southeast of Puducherry, and about 290 km south of Chennai. It is expected to continue its north-northwestward path, staying over the southwest Bay of Bengal while skirting the north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh coasts through Sunday.

Authorities continue to urge residents to exercise caution, remain indoors, avoid coastal zones, and follow instructions from district officials as the cyclone makes its closest approach.