A nascent cyclonic storm named Ditwah, originating from a deep depression off the Sri Lanka coast, is barreling toward northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh, prompting widespread weather alerts across the region, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported. Classified as a cyclonic storm without immediate prospects of escalating to severe status, the system poses immediate threats of intense rainfall and gusty winds, with its precise landfall—anticipated between the evening of November 29 and morning of November 30—hanging on trajectory shifts in the coming day.
At its center, Ditwah could unleash gale-force winds of 60-80 kmph, peaking at 90 kmph with gusts, while peripheral bands may whip up 35-45 kmph breezes, surging to 55 kmph. Comparable conditions are forecast over sections of the Arabian Sea adjacent to Kerala, Lakshadweep, and the Maldives. In response, authorities have barred fishermen from vast swaths of the Bay of Bengal through the next five days to avert maritime perils.
Tamil Nadu’s response has been swift and layered. A red alert blankets Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai districts, forewarning over 20 cm of downpour in the ensuing 24 hours. An orange alert extends to five neighboring areas, encompassing Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, and Chengalpattu, signaling substantial precipitation risks. Chief Minister MK Stalin convened the state disaster management authority to scrutinize readiness and orchestrate relief protocols, issuing directives for inter-departmental synergy amid warnings for November 29 and 30.
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The moniker Ditwah, proposed by Yemen, draws from the Detwah Lagoon on Socotra Island. Recent hours brought patchy showers to Tamil Nadu, with Thangachimadam logging 3 cm; Puducherry and Karaikal, however, endured largely arid spells. Cumulatively, the northeast monsoon has bestowed about 35 cm of rain—marginally exceeding norms—yet Chennai lags 31 percent behind expectations. Definitive landfall projections await further monitoring of the storm’s path.
In Andhra Pradesh, the state disaster management authority confirmed the depression’s upgrade to cyclone status as it veers north-northwest over the southwest Bay of Bengal and nearby Sri Lankan waters. South Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema brace for heavy rains and robust winds, with Chittoor, Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, YSR Kadapa, Annamayya, and Sri Sathya Sai districts slated for two days of intense deluges.
Puducherry falls under an IMD orange alert from November 28 to December 1, as the cyclone’s influence merges with local weather patterns. Officials implore residents to remain indoors barring necessities, cautioning against refuge near trees, streetlights, or dilapidated buildings, and advising parents to shield children from exposed areas. Emergency aid is accessible via 1077, 1070, 112, or the disaster management WhatsApp line at 94889 81070.
Across the Palk Strait, Sri Lanka grapples with the cyclone’s precursor fury. Three days of unrelenting rains have unleashed floods and landslides, claiming 47 lives. Schools and public facilities stand shuttered nationwide, seven districts operate under red alerts, and the Air Force mobilizes for urgent rescues. Rail operations face curtailments, while inbound flights risk rerouting to Thiruvananthapuram or Cochin amid turbulent skies. The island’s acute inundations stem directly from the same depression that birthed Cyclone Ditwah in the Bay of Bengal.
As Ditwah advances, southern India’s coastal communities hunker down, underscoring the monsoon season’s volatile caprice and the imperative of vigilant forecasting.
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