Cyclone Ditwah Kills 3 in Tamil Nadu, Submerges 57,000 Hectares Farmland; India Launches ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ for Sri Lanka

Major impact in Tamil Nadu

• Three people have died in rain-related incidents in Tuticorin, Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai linked to Cyclone Ditwah’s heavy showers and associated accidents.

• Around 234 huts and kutcha (mud) houses in coastal and delta regions have suffered damage, leaving several families displaced in already vulnerable localities.

• Nearly 57,000 hectares of agricultural land in Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai and neighbouring districts have been submerged, hitting paddy and other standing crops at a critical phase of the northeast monsoon season.

Livestock losses and local disruption

• At least 149 head of livestock have died in the cyclone-linked rains, dealing a serious blow to small and marginal farmers who depend on cattle for income and farm operations.

• Continuous heavy rain and waterlogging have been reported from Chennai, Nagapattinam, Thoothukudi, Kumbakonam, Puducherry and other coastal belts, with visuals showing flooded streets, inundated slums and rough sea conditions.

• Flight operations in Chennai have been badly affected, with dozens of services cancelled or delayed as strong winds and reduced visibility disrupt schedules.

IMD alerts and weather forecast

• The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over districts such as Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Chengalpattu and Puducherry as the storm tracks parallel to the coast.

• IMD bulletins place Cyclone Ditwah over the southwest Bay of Bengal, moving northwards at roughly 10–12 kmph, with gale-force winds around 70–80 kmph and gusts up to 90 kmph near the Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coastline.

• In Andhra Pradesh, the department has warned of moderate to heavy, and at times very heavy, rainfall in districts including Nellore, Prakasam, Kadapa, Tirupati and parts of coastal Andhra between November 30 and December 3 as the system moves northward.

Disaster response and preparedness

• Tamil Nadu has deployed at least 28 disaster response teams, including NDRF and SDRF units, with an additional 10 NDRF teams rushed in from other states to reinforce coastal districts facing intense rain and wind.

• These teams are equipped for flood rescue and collapsed-structure search operations, using boats, cutting tools and sniffer dogs across locations such as Puducherry, Pudukkottai, Villupuram and the Greater Chennai region.

• Indian Railways has activated emergency control rooms and may suspend train services on vulnerable coastal sections if conditions worsen, while universities and institutions in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have postponed exams and announced holidays in affected areas.

Operation Sagar Bandhu for Sri Lanka

• India has launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to assist Sri Lanka, which has recorded heavy casualties and large-scale damage after Cyclone Ditwah caused severe flooding and landslides across multiple provinces.

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said that around 27 tonnes of relief material have already been delivered to Colombo by air and sea, along with two urban search-and-rescue teams of about 80 NDRF personnel.

• The Indian Navy and Air Force have mobilised assets including transport aircraft like the IL‑76 and C‑130J, as well as ships such as INS Vikrant, INS Udaigiri and INS Sukanya, to deliver supplies and support evacuation and rescue missions in Sri Lanka’s worst-hit zones.