The Cyclone ditwah tracker shows the storm moving steadily toward the Tamil Nadu coast after causing massive destruction in Sri Lanka. The India Meteorological Department reports that Cyclone Ditwah is currently hovering over the southwest Bay of Bengal. Furthermore, the system is expected to make landfall near the North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast by early November 30, 2025.
The IMD has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall across several districts. Consequently, authorities have cancelled 54 flights at Chennai Airport and suspended operations at airports in Madurai, Trichy, and Thoothukudi. Additionally, the Tamil Nadu government declared holidays for all schools and educational institutions on Saturday as a safety precaution.
VIDEO | Puducherry: Drone visuals show rough sea conditions as Cyclone Ditwah heads towards the union territory coast.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/YdTqyWfgZ9
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 29, 2025
Meanwhile, the storm has already caused catastrophic damage in Sri Lanka. The death toll has risen to 123, with another 130 people reported missing. Moreover, nearly 15,000 homes have been destroyed, and around 44,000 people are now living in government-run shelters. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency throughout the island to expedite relief operations.
India immediately launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to assist Sri Lanka. The Indian Navy deployed INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri, which arrived in Colombo carrying essential relief supplies. Similarly, an Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft delivered 80 National Disaster Response Force personnel along with specialized rescue equipment. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed that India has delivered around 27 tonnes of relief material by air and sea.
Another @IAF_MCC IL-76 aircraft lands in Colombo with:
➡️9 Tons Relief Material
➡️2 Urban Search & Rescue Teams comprising 80 National Disaster Response Force PersonnelA total of around 27 tons of relief material delivered by air and sea. More is on the way!
🇮🇳 🇱🇰… pic.twitter.com/1YKjb0duzg
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 29, 2025
The cyclone began as a low-pressure system over the southwest Bay of Bengal earlier this week. Subsequently, warm sea temperatures helped it intensify into a deep depression and eventually into a cyclonic storm. Although Ditwah weakened slightly after crossing Sri Lanka, it still holds the potential to unleash heavy rainfall. Furthermore, wind speeds could reach 60-80 kmph near the coast during landfall.
Authorities have warned fishermen to stay away from the sea along the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry-Andhra coastline until December 1. Additionally, the sea conditions remain extremely rough as the storm approaches. Several districts in Tamil Nadu, including Puducherry, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, and Villupuram, are under red alert today.
Transportation has also been severely disrupted. Southern Railway announced cancellations and short terminations for selected services on November 28 and 29. The situation at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport has stranded approximately 300 Indian passengers for the past three days. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has directed officials to coordinate with the Indian Embassy for their safe return.
Kerala is also preparing for heavy rainfall. Three reservoirs in Idukki district are on red alert due to rising water levels. Similarly, Andhra Pradesh districts including Tirupathi, Chittoor, and Prakasam, are on orange alert for heavy rains.
IndiGo airline issued a travel advisory warning passengers about potential disruptions at affected airports. The airline stated that flights to and from Colombo, Jaffna, Pondicherry, Tuticorin, Trichy, Chennai, and Madurai may experience delays or cancellations.
Travel Advisory | Cyclone Ditwah
As Cyclone Ditwah continues to move westwards, its associated rainfall and wind patterns are now affecting parts of Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu. As a result, flights to and from #Colombo, #Jaffna, #Pondicherry, #Tuticorin, #Trichy, #Chennai and…
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) November 29, 2025
The Cyclone ditwah tracker continues to monitor the storm’s movement as it approaches the Indian coast, with authorities maintaining high alert across multiple states.
