Cyclone Ditwah LIVE Updates: Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds batter Kodiyakarai beach

Meteorological officials in Sri Lanka stated that Cyclone Ditwah has exited the country after killing more than 120 people and leaving a trail of destruction and damage to infrastructure.

“We noticed Ditwah exiting Sri Lanka and heading towards the Indian coast,” Athula Karunanayake, director general of the meteorology department, told reporters, according to PTI.

According to the IMD, the Cyclonic Storm Ditwah over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Srilanka moved north-northwestwards with the speed of 8 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered over the same region, east of Jaffna (Sri Lanka), 140 km southeast of Vedaranniyam (India), 170 km south-southeast of Karaikal (India), 280 km south-southeast of Puducherry (India) and 380 km south of Chennai (India).

It is very likely to continue to move north-northwestwards and reach over southwest Bay of Bengal near North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early morning of November 30.

The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka has established an Emergency Help Desk at Bandaranaike International Airport (Colombo) to assist Indian citizens affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

Indian nationals at airports or anywhere in Sri Lanka can reach out for help at +94 773727832.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday said the state is fully prepared for cyclone Ditwah, with 16 SDRF and 12 NDRF teams deployed to districts expected to receive heavy rainfall.The Chief Minister urged all departments to coordinate effectively and asked the public to follow weather warnings, stay indoors, and remain in safe places amid Cyclone Ditwah.

In a post on X, CM Stalin wrote, "Cyclone Ditwah, I have held consultations with the District Collectors of 14 districts regarding precautionary measures to protect people from the impacts and have issued instructions. 16 SDRF teams and 12 NDRF teams have been deployed to districts where heavy rainfall is likely to occur."

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that cyclone 'Ditwah', currently hovering close to Sri Lanka and the southwest Bay of Bengal, is likely to intensify slightly and move towards the North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast by early November 30, triggering heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, strong winds and the risk of urban flooding across multiple southern states.

Speaking to ANI, IMD Director General of Meteorology Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the cyclonic storm is presently centred over coastal areas of Sri Lanka and adjoining parts of the southwest Bay of Bengal, around 480 km south of Chennai, and is moving in a north-northwestward direction."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," Mohapatra told ANI.He said rainfall has already begun along the Tamil Nadu coastline and is likely to intensify, warning of "heavy to extremely heavy rainfall" across Tamil Nadu, south Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry.

An Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft reached Sri Lanka with 80 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), including four females and four sniffer dogs, along with disaster relief supplies and rescue equipment to aid ongoing operations.The Sri Lanka Air Force announced the arrival on X, stating, "An IL-76 IAF aircraft arrived in Sri Lanka carrying 80 NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) personnel, including four females, four sniffer dogs, disaster relief supplies and rescue equipment to support ongoing relief operations."

Nearly 300 passengers, including around 150 Tamilians travelling from Dubai to India via Sri Lanka, have been stranded at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport for the last three days after Cyclone Ditwah forced the cancellation of multiple flights to Chennai, ANI reported. Passengers alleged they have been left without adequate food, water, and basic facilities, as operations remain disrupted by severe weather. Taking cognisance of the distress faced by those stranded, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin directed the Public Department Secretary to coordinate with the Indian Embassy in Colombo.

Cyclone Ditwah is currently over coastal Sri Lanka and the southwest Bay of Bengal, about 480 km south of Chennai. It is moving north-northwest and is expected to reach the North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast by early morning on Sunday, November 30, bringing heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, strong winds, and the risk of urban flooding. The storm may uproot trees, damage houses, affect crops, and create rough sea conditions. Fishermen have been advised not to go to sea, and travel and shipping may be disrupted on November 29-30.