Cyclone Ditwah: Cyclone Ditwah has claimed 69 lives in Sri Lanka so far, while 34 people are still missing as of Friday. As the country continues to experience extreme weather conditions, India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief. According to reports, the adverse weather has affected 219,286 people across the island nation since November 16, 2025. Four houses have reportedly been destroyed, while 666 others have been partially damaged.
India Launches Operation Sagar Bandhu
Under operation Sagar Bandhu, Indian naval ships, INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri, handed over disaster relief materials to Sri Lankan authorities in Colombo. In a post on X, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, "Operation Sagar Bandhu commences. INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri hand over relief material at Colombo. Further steps are underway."
---Advertisement---
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives due to the cyclone. "My heartfelt condolences to the people of Sri Lanka who have lost their loved ones due to Cyclone Ditwah. I pray for the safety, comfort, and swift recovery of all affected families. In solidarity with our closest maritime neighbour, India has urgently dispatched relief materials and vital HADR support under Operation Sagar Bandhu," he wrote in a post on X. He further stated that India's humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka is guided by its "Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR".
---Advertisement---
Multiple Regions In Sri Lanka On Alert
In its latest forecast, the Sri Lankan Meteorological Department sounded an alert for heavy rainfall exceeding 200 mm in multiple regions, including parts of the Northern, North-Western, Central, North-Central, Sabaragamuwa, and Western Provinces.
IMD Warns Of Intense Rainfall
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also warned that cyclone Ditwah, looming close to Sri Lanka and the southwest Bay of Bengal, will likely intensify slightly. It will advance towards the North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast by November 30, bringing torrential rainfall, strong winds across several southern states.
Earlier on Friday, IMD Director General of Meteorology Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told ANI, "We expect it to come out of Sri Lanka and enter the southwest Bay of Bengal by 29th morning. Then there could be a slight intensification. With this wind speed, the cyclone storm will continue to move north-northwestwards and reach near the North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast by 30th early morning."
Tamil Nadu, Puducherry will receive heavy downpour till November 30, while the Coastal
Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema until December 1. Meanwhile, sea conditions will remain rough along and off the mentioned coasts on November 29 and 30. The IMD is expecting the system to gradually weaken after November 30 as it advances northwards.