Cyclone Ditwah Weakens, Parallel Movement Along Coast
The severe Cyclone Ditwah is expected to weaken into a deep depression, with the weather system projected to be centred over the southwest Bay of Bengal within a minimum distance of just 30 km from the coasts of North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry by midnight on Sunday, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre.
In a bulletin issued on Sunday evening, the Met office stated that the cyclone was located approximately 90 km southeast of Cuddalore, 120 km northeast of Karaikal, 90 km southeast of Puducherry, 170 km northeast of Vedaranniyam, and 150 km southeast of Chennai. The system was moving at a slow speed of about 5 km per hour.
Impact and Warnings Issued
The cyclone's movement is predicted to be nearly northwards, running parallel to the North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to very heavy rain at a few places over Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Kancheepuram, Chennai, Chengalpattu, and Vellore districts during the next 24 hours.
Isolated heavy rainfall is also likely in Tirupathur, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram districts, and Puducherry. Furthermore, strong surface winds with speeds reaching 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph, are expected to prevail over North Coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and the south coastal Karaikal area.
The sea condition is likely to be high, improving gradually to very rough by the morning of December 1. Fishermen have been strongly advised not to venture into the sea, and those already out are urged to avoid the southwest Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Mannar, Comorin area, and along the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh until December 1.
Casualties and State Response
The state government confirmed that the cyclone has already had a tragic impact, with three persons killed in rain-related incidents. State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran provided details, stating that two individuals died due to wall collapses in Tuticorin and Thanjavur, respectively, while a 20-year-old youth died from electrocution in Mayiladuthurai.
The heavy rainfall has severely affected the Cauvery delta districts, with Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam districts bearing the brunt. Normal life has been disrupted in the coastal towns of Rameswaram and Nagapattinam as several low-lying areas were inundated. The minister also reported that 149 livestock have perished, and 57,000 hectares of farmland have been affected.
In response to the crisis, the state government is on high alert. 38 disaster response teams, including units from the SDRF and NDRF, are on standby. This force was bolstered on Saturday evening with 10 additional teams from other states joining the relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Meanwhile, Southern Railway has activated a comprehensive cyclone preparedness mechanism to ensure the safety of passengers, staff, and critical infrastructure. With experience from previous extreme weather events, they have strengthened Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and are maintaining round-the-clock vigilance in the Chennai, Madurai, and Tiruchirappalli divisions.
