As Cyclone Ditwah moves northwards across the southwest Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for parts of Tamil Nadu. The state government and disaster agencies have activated relief measures, Chennai airport has cancelled multiple flights, and authorities have opened thousands of relief camps to help vulnerable communities.
The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall over several coastal districts and placed some areas under an orange alert while parts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry faced red alerts for isolated extremely heavy rainfall. The cyclone is forecast to travel nearly northwards, running roughly parallel to the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline. Localized intense spells of rain, strong gusts and squally seas are expected as the system comes closer to shore.
Impact: flights, evacuations and relief operations
Chennai airport and airlines announced disruptions as safety precautions. Multiple carriers cancelled services to and from Chennai regional ATR services were particularly affected with media reports placing cancelled flights between several dozen to over fifty across the region. Airport and airline advisories urged passengers to check flight status directly before travelling.
State authorities in Tamil Nadu said more than 6,000 temporary relief camps have been made ready to shelter those in low-lying or flood-prone areas. The government ordered pre-emptive measures including opening community shelters, readying the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, and ensuring supply lines for food, medical aid and power restoration crews.
Inspection by Deputy Chief Minister
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin conducted on-ground inspections in vulnerable coastal localities to review preparedness and relief readiness. Officials reported coordination with local bodies and district collectors to expedite evacuations where needed, protect critical infrastructure and keep emergency helplines active.
Sri Lanka: humanitarian fallout and India’s response
Cyclone Ditwah has already caused severe flooding in Sri Lanka. Reports from international and Indian agencies show a significant death toll and widespread displacement there; media updates during the event varied as rescue operations continued. India has launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to provide humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka, dispatching relief material and NDRF teams.
Safety advice and what residents should do
Residents in coastal and low-lying zones should follow official evacuation orders, avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from beaches and river banks. Keep emergency supplies handy water, medicines, torch and battery backups and stay tuned to district administration broadcasts and verified IMD updates. Fisherfolk have been advised not to venture into the sea until authorities lift the advisory.
Transport, schools and essential services
School closures and suspension of some rail and ferry services were reported in vulnerable districts as authorities worked to minimise risk. Power and telecom restoration teams were placed on alert to respond rapidly to outages. The Chennai airport advised passengers to confirm flight schedules due to rolling cancellations and rescheduling by airlines.