- By Supratik Das
- Fri, 28 Nov 2025 12:33 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Cyclone Ditwah Alert: Cyclone Ditwah tore through Sri Lanka on Friday, leaving a trail of destruction across the island, with at least 46 people confirmed dead and 23 missing, even as rescue teams struggled to reach several cut-off villages. Authorities warned that the storm could intensify further as it tracks north-northwest toward India over the next 12 hours.
Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said more than 43,900 people had been evacuated to schools and public shelters after torrential rains, exceeding 300 mm in just 24 hours, triggered deadly landslides in the eastern and central districts. Several families were rescued from rooftops as floodwaters rapidly rose overnight.
“Many interior roads are buried under landslide debris. Some communities remain unreachable. We are doing everything we can to move people to safety,” Brigadier S. Dharmawickrema, Emergency Operations Director at the DMC, told Reuters. Schools remained shut, major train services were suspended, and the Colombo Stock Exchange halted trading early amid continuing heavy downpours.
Flight Diversions As Colombo Weather Worsens
The impact of Cyclone Ditwah disrupted regional air traffic, with five Colombo-bound flights diverted to Thiruvananthapuram airport on Friday due to poor visibility and severe weather.
According to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL), the diverted flights included services from Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, and Mumbai. Aircraft from Etihad Airways, AirAsia, IndiGo, and SriLankan Airlines landed between 3.44 am and 9.49 am and remained grounded as conditions in Colombo failed to improve. Officials said more diversions were likely through the day if the cyclone continued to hover near Sri Lanka’s coast.
Orange Alert In Parts Of India
As the system shifted toward the Bay of Bengal, India issued a series of alerts for its southeastern coastline. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh under orange alert, warning of extremely heavy rainfall, strong winds, and rough sea conditions through November 30. At 02:30 hrs IST, the cyclone was centred 50 km south of Trincomalee and 560 km south-southeast of Chennai, moving at roughly 10 kmph.
The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority cautioned that coastal districts and Rayalaseema would witness intense rain bands starting Saturday. Prakhar Jain, Managing Director of the state disaster authority, said the system was gradually strengthening and would approach the North Tamil Nadu–Puducherry–South Andhra belt by early November 30. Fishermen have been advised to stay away from the sea, while farmers were urged to secure crops and equipment.
The Vizag Cyclone Warning Centre projected a varied rainfall pattern for the next six days isolated rain initially, followed by scattered showers and then widespread downpours across north and south coastal Andhra districts. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are expected between Day 2 and Day 5. Wind speeds along the Andhra coast may increase from 35–45 kmph to higher squally levels as the cyclone moves northward.
Authorities Urge Caution As Ditwah Strengthens
Both Sri Lankan and Indian officials advised residents of low-lying coastal areas to remain alert, as weather models indicated the possibility of further intensification once Ditwah fully enters the Bay of Bengal.
Emergency crews in Sri Lanka continue search-and-rescue operations, while Indian agencies prepare for potential flooding, power disruptions, and transportation delays along the east coast.