Fishermen have been pulled off large stretches of the Bay, multiple districts of southern states are on red or orange alert as officials said that Cyclone Ditwah’s landfall timing will hinge on its shifting track over the next 24 hours.
Cyclonic storm Ditwah, which grew out of a deep depression near the Sri Lanka coast, is now tracking toward north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh, according to the India Meteorological Department. Officials said that the system is being treated as a cyclonic storm, with no forecast upgrade to a severe cyclone for now.
Gale winds near the core may hit 60-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph, while outer bands are expected to deliver 35-45 kmph winds, gusting to 55 kmph. Similar wind conditions are likely over parts of the Arabian Sea close to Kerala, Lakshadweep, and the Maldives. Fishermen have been advised to stay away from large stretches of the Bay of Bengal for the next five days.
Tamil Nadu has issued a red alert for Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai, signalling the possibility of more than 20 cm of rain in the next 24 hours. An orange alert is in place for five surrounding districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Ranipet and Chengalpattu.
Chief Minister MK Stalin met the state’s disaster management authority to assess preparedness and review special measures. Following the warning for November 29 and 30, Stalin has directed all departments to coordinate relief work.
The storm name Ditwah was suggested by Yemen, likely a reference to the Detwah Lagoon on Socotra Island. In the 24 hours before Thursday’s briefing, Tamil Nadu saw scattered rain, with Thangachimadam recording 3 cm, while Puducherry and Karaikal stayed mostly dry.
Overall, the northeast monsoon has delivered around 35 cm so far, slightly above the seasonal average, though Chennai remained 31 per cent below normal. A clear landfall forecast will depend on how the system’s track evolves.
In Andhra Pradesh, the state disaster management authority said the depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Sri Lanka coast had strengthened into a cyclone moving north-northwest. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected across South Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, with the system projected to approach the north Tamil Nadu–Puducherry–south Andhra stretch between the evening of November 29 and the morning of November 30.
Chittoor, Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, YSR Kadapa, Annamayya and Sri Sathya Sai districts may face two days of heavy to very heavy rain.
The weather department has also issued an orange alert for Puducherry between November 28 and December 1 under the impact of the merging cyclone. The administration has urged residents to stay indoors unless they have no choice but to step out, warning against taking shelter under trees, lamp posts or inside ageing structures.
Parents have been advised to keep children away from open spaces during this period.
Authorities said anyone needing assistance or guidance can reach emergency services through 1077, 1070 or 112, or contact the disaster management authority on its WhatsApp helpline at 94889 81070.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, is battling the worst of the weather. Continuous rainfall for three days has triggered floods and landslides, leaving 47 people dead. All schools and institutions have been shut, seven districts are under a red alert, and the Air Force has been deployed for rescue operations.
