Post by : Rameen Ariff

As Cyclone Ditwah moves closer to the north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, authorities across the region have intensified preparations. From airport shutdowns to widespread alerts, the state is bracing for strong winds, heavy rainfall and severe coastal impact over the next 48 hours.

The cyclone, which is travelling across coastal Sri Lanka and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, has continued to strengthen, prompting an orange alert for several districts. The system has already caused widespread destruction in Sri Lanka, where at least 123 people have died and more than 130 remain missing. Officials there said nearly 44,000 people have been moved to government shelters after a week of relentless rain and flooding.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Ditwah moved north-northwest at a speed of 8 kmph during the early hours of Saturday. At 5:30 am, the system was positioned over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the northern part of Sri Lanka. It was located around 300 km south-southeast of Puducherry and about 400 km south of Chennai.

Meteorologists expect the cyclone to continue its path toward the coasts of north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and southern Andhra Pradesh, reaching the region by early Sunday morning. Wind speeds along the coastline, currently between 50 and 60 kmph, are forecast to rise sharply to 70–80 kmph with gusts up to 90 kmph. The sea, already rough, is likely to turn very rough to high until Sunday.

In view of the deteriorating weather, Chennai Airport has cancelled 54 flights scheduled for Saturday. The suspended flights include regional turboprop services operating to cities such as Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Thoothukudi, Salem, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Jaffna. Both arrivals and departures have been affected. Airport authorities said the decision was taken after assessing the risks posed by powerful winds and intense rainfall expected during the cyclone’s approach. Passengers have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel to the airport.

Rail movement has also been disrupted. Trains heading from Chennai, Kanyakumari and Madurai to Rameswaram were stopped at Mandapam, where government buses have been arranged to transport passengers. Services originating from Rameswaram will also operate only from Mandapam until conditions improve.

The Regional Meteorological Centre has issued warnings for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across several districts. Schools and colleges have been closed in Perambalur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Pudukottai, Puducherry and Karaikal. In Villupuram, Thanjavur and Tiruchi, only schools have been shut for now. Pondicherry University has postponed examinations and declared a holiday for all classes after receiving a severe weather alert from the Coast Guard.

Chennai and its neighbouring districts are expected to receive intense rainfall accompanied by strong winds. Heavy to extremely heavy rain has been forecast for Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai, while Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Ranipet and Tiruvannamalai may experience intense downpours. Delta districts such as Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam are also likely to face heavy spells.

District officials have urged residents to stay indoors, avoid flooded areas and keep track of government advisories. Fishermen have been strictly warned not to venture into the sea due to dangerous conditions. Along the coast of Thanjavur, around 1,500 mechanised boats and more than 2,000 country boats have been securely anchored as a precaution.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin held discussions with the District Collectors of 14 districts on Friday to review preparedness measures. A total of 16 teams from the State Disaster Response Force and 12 teams from the National Disaster Response Force have been strategically deployed in vulnerable regions including Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai and Mayiladuthurai.

With Cyclone Ditwah expected to intensify further before reaching the coast, authorities are maintaining high alert and urging the public to exercise caution until the system weakens.

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