Cyclonic storm Ditwah, which recently caused severe damage in Sri Lanka and killed at least 69 people, is now moving towards the southern coast of India. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone is expected to reach the southwest Bay of Bengal near north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh by early morning on November 30.
Tamil Nadu is likely to experience significant disruption to daily life due to the cyclone’s impact. In its latest bulletin released at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, the IMD said the storm was moving north-northwest at a speed of 8 kmph over the past six hours. At 5:30 a.m., it was located over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining area of north Sri Lanka. At that time, it was about 80 km east-southeast of Jaffna, 110 km north-northwest of Trincomalee, 190 km south-southeast of Karaikal, 300 km south-southeast of Puducherry, and 400 km south of Chennai.
Heavy rainfall predicted in THESE states
Tamil Nadu is on high alert as Cyclone Ditwah approaches the state. Authorities are taking steps to reduce the cyclone’s impact and ensure public safety. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall in southern districts and the Cauvery delta region between November 29 and 30.
Chief Minister MK Stalin reviewed the situation on Friday at the state emergency operations centre, according to a PTI report, to assess preparedness and coordinate relief measures.
The IMD has issued a red alert for several districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm in 24 hours. Districts such as Chengalpattu, Villupuram, and Cuddalore, among others, are expected to receive intense rainfall on Saturday.
Trains and flights disrupted due to Cyclone Ditwah
Train and flight services are being affected as Cyclone Ditwah approaches. Authorities have cancelled or rescheduled several trains in southern Tamil Nadu to prevent any problems caused by the cyclone.
Flights to and from Colombo, Jaffna, Pondicherry, Tuticorin, Tiruchirappalli, Chennai, and Madurai may also face delays or cancellations, according to IndiGo. The airline has advised passengers to check their flight status on its mobile app. Customers whose flights are affected can either get a refund or choose an alternate option.
Akasa Air also stated that its flights to and from Chennai will be impacted by Cyclone Ditwah. Passengers are advised to check flight status updates on the airline’s website.
Train services partially cancelled or altered
Several trains in southern Tamil Nadu are partially cancelled, terminated, or scheduled to skip certain stations due to Cyclone Ditwah. Stations affected include Rameswaram, Pamban, Uchipuli, Mandapam Camp, and others.
Trains impacted include the 22662 Rameswaram – Chennai Egmore Express, 16104 Rameswaram – Tambaram Express, 16344 Madurai – Thiruvananthapuram Central Express, 16850 Rameswaram – Tiruchirappalli Express, and 16752 Mandapam – Chennai Egmore Express, among others. Passengers are advised to check train schedules and updates before traveling.
Cyclone Ditwah Disrupts Flights at Chennai Airport
Chennai Airport announced on X that at least 40 flights scheduled for Saturday have been affected due to the approaching Cyclone Ditwah. Most of these flights are operated by the budget airline IndiGo.
Passengers traveling on November 29 are advised to check the official list of affected flights and confirm details with their airlines to avoid any inconvenience.
