Cyclone Ditwah: Chetan Hansraj and Urvashi Dholakia reassure fans they are safe in Colombo with Ekta Kapoor

Ekta Kapoor Urvashi Dholakia and Chetan Hansraj in Colombo

Cyclone Ditwah’s sweep across Sri Lanka on Friday has left the island reeling, bringing heartbreak and chaos in its wake.

According to the latest updates from Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre, 212 people have lost their lives, and 218 remain missing as rescue teams continue to reach remote areas in the central and eastern districts. The storm’s wrath has been devastating, and officials warn that the toll could rise as more regions are surveyed.

Amid this unfolding tragedy, a planned work trip to Colombo for actors Chetan Hansraj and Urvashi Dholakia, along with producer Ektaa Kapoor, turned unexpectedly tense. What was meant to be a routine fan-meet quickly became a race against the storm.

Speaking candidly to Hindustan Times, Chetan Hansraj described the journey in gripping detail. “When we flew from Mumbai, it was all okay. It was during the flight that we felt heavy turbulence, and the captain informed us about the situation for the first time. Many flights were cancelled and diverted; God knows how ours managed to reach,” he recalled.

Landing in Colombo was surreal. “It was completely stormy when we reached Colombo. The next day it all changed. We are lucky Colombo is safe today, and we hope we can fly back tomorrow as planned, though flights are disrupted. Let’s see how things go for all of us tomorrow,” he added.

Urvashi Dholakia, sensing fans’ concern, shared a reassuring video on Instagram. “We are in Colombo, and guys, we are safe. Yesterday it was bad, but today it’s much better here,” she said, conveying calm amidst uncertainty.

Ekta Kapoor also shared a video on Instagram saying, "Finally there's sun in Colombo"

Despite the disruptions, both actors are trying to stay positive while keeping an eye on updates about flights and local conditions. Chetan, who was last seen in the 2024 web series Taaza Khabar, is gearing up for his next big project — Ramayana, scheduled in two parts for 2026 and 2027.

Urvashi recently returned to television with Pushpa Impossible, reprising her role as Devi Singh Shekhawat, after her last major project, Naagin 6.

Also Read: Severe storms kill nearly 1,000 in Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka

Meanwhile, the storm continues to affect neighbouring India. The IMD has issued warnings for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across multiple districts in Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, Thanjavur, and Tiruchirappalli. Residents have been urged to stay indoors, avoid coastal areas, and heed local authorities’ instructions. Fishermen have been warned to avoid the sea.

As per PTI, relief efforts are in full swing. Tamil Nadu has deployed 38 disaster response teams, including SDRF and NDRF units, with 10 additional teams arriving from other states, as confirmed by State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister R Ramachandran.