Cyclone Ditwah was on Sunday moving north along the coast of Tamil Nadu, leading to heavy rainfall in the region.

This came after the cyclonic storm caused devastation in Sri Lanka.

It is unclear where and when the cyclone will make landfall.

Here are the top updates:

  • The India Meteorological Department said on Sunday afternoon that the cyclone was located about 170 km south-southeast of Chennai, 110 km northeast of Karaikal and 100 km east-southeast of Puducherry. It had moved at a speed of about 7 km per hour since morning.
  • The cyclonic storm was very likely to move nearly northwards parallel to the northern Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast in the next 24 hours. It would be within a minimum distance of 30 km from the coastline by Sunday evening, the weather department added.
  • Three persons have died in rain-related incidents, the state’s Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran said. The deaths occurred in Tuticorin, Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai.
  • Ramachandran said 28 disaster response teams are on stand-by and additional 10 teams have reached Tamil Nadu from other states, PTI reported.
  • The weather department on Sunday issued a red alert warning for heavy to very heavy rain, with extremely heavy rain likely in one or two places in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur and Ranipet districts. An orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain was issued for parts of Kancheepuram, Chennai, Chengalpattu and Vellore districts.
  • In Andhra Pradesh, a red alert warning of extremely heavy rain was issued for Prakasam and SPSR Nellore districts.
  • Two IndiGo flights operating between Chennai and Jaffna in Sri Lanka were cancelled on Sunday, The Indian Express reported.

Sri Lanka

  • In Sri Lanka, the toll from flooding and landslides triggered by the cyclone increased to 212, The Hindu quoted the country’s Disaster Management Centre as saying. More than 200 persons are missing.
  • The northern areas of Colombo were flooded as the water level in the Kelani River increased rapidly because of the heavy rainfall, AFP reported.
  • Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency on Saturday to deal with the devastation caused by the cyclone. He also appealed for international help. More than 25,000 homes have been destroyed and 1.4 lakh persons were taken to temporary shelters, AFP reported.
  • India’s National Disaster Response Force sent two teams to Sri Lanka to assist in relief operations. The Indian Air Force said it has positioned helicopters in Colombo for humanitarian assistance. Transport aircraft have also been earmarked for large-scale evacuation of Indians and to deliver essential relief material.