Cyclone Ditwah has weakened from its previous intensity, now classified as a deep depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal. This development has alleviated immediate fears of very heavy rainfall in northern Tamil Nadu. However, the cyclone’s destructive path has left a tragic toll in Sri Lanka, where the number of fatalities has risen to 334, and a substantial number of people remain unaccounted for.
Sri Lanka’s President has declared a national state of emergency, emphasizing its singular focus on disaster response and management. The government is prioritizing the restoration of critical services, including electricity, water supply, and communication networks, which have been severely disrupted. Full state support has been pledged for the recovery process, acknowledging the unprecedented scale of the disaster.
Indian rescue and aid teams are actively engaged in Sri Lanka, working alongside local emergency services and military branches. Their operations involve crucial evacuations and the delivery of essential supplies to flood-affected communities across the island. Communication challenges persist in some of the hardest-hit regions, complicating coordination efforts.
In anticipation of continued rainfall, Puducherry authorities have ordered all government and private schools to close on Monday, December 1st. Schools in Nellore and Annamayya districts of Andhra Pradesh will also observe a holiday. As the deep depression moves northward, parallel to the Tamil Nadu coast, the forecast for the region includes light to moderate rain with thunderstorms. Chennai is expected to experience generally cloudy skies with a chance of moderate rainfall at a few locations.