Tamil Nadu is on high alert as Cyclone Ditwah moves closer to its coast, threatening to bring extremely heavy rainfall across the state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'red' alert for Saturday, November 29, 2025, forecasting rainfall exceeding 204 mm within 24 hours.
Government and Disaster Response on High Alert
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has taken direct charge of the situation, conducting a review meeting and directing district collectors in 14 districts to implement all necessary precautionary measures. To ensure public safety, a significant force of disaster response teams has been mobilized. This includes 12 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 16 teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), with several units being deployed to Chennai and other vulnerable coastal districts.
Storm Trajectory and Widespread Impact
As of 5:30 am on Friday, Cyclone Ditwah was positioned approximately 190 km south-southeast of Karaikal and about 400 km south of Chennai. The system is expected to move north-northwestwards, crossing coastal Sri Lanka before reaching near North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and the adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by Sunday morning. The effects of the cyclone are already being felt, with several areas in Tamil Nadu, including Pamban (70 mm) and Nagapattinam (60 mm), receiving substantial overnight rainfall.
The Southern Railway has proactively announced partial cancellation of 12 trains and short termination of 11 others servicing destinations like Rameshwaram, Madurai, and Kanyakumari due to the impending severe weather. Visuals from Ramanathapuram showed powerful winds bending palm trees and massive waves crashing against seawalls, underscoring the cyclone's intensity.
Regional Rainfall Forecast and Advisories
The meteorological warnings extend beyond Tamil Nadu. Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall on both Saturday and Sunday, prompting an 'orange' alert for south coastal Andhra Pradesh. States including Kerala, Mahe, and Telangana are also forecast to experience moderate rainfall throughout the weekend. Authorities are urging residents in all affected regions to stay indoors, avoid travel near coastal areas, and follow official updates closely.
