Cyclone Ditwah highlights: Red alert issued as IMD says storm closer to Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: As Cyclone Ditwah nears the Indian coastline, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are bracing for impact. The Indian Meteorological Department has issued rain alerts for Chennai, Cuddalore and other regions of Tamil Nadu.

As per the warnings issued for November 30, the IMD has issued an orange alert for Chennai and parts of Tamil Nadu. Read more here.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: Air India on Saturday issued a travel advisory on the possible disruption in flight operations due to heavy rain and strong winds resulting from Cyclone Ditwah.

The airline requested the travellers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport. The airlines also advised people to contact them for any assistance.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: As normal life in Rameswaram and Nagapattinam was affected by continuous rain accompanied by gusty winds, state revenue and disaster management minister KKSSR Ramachandran said that 28 disaster response teams, including SDRF and NDRF teams, are on standby.

Under the cyclone's influence, the sea in the coastal districts became turbulent. Choppy waves damaged a few mechanised fishing boats anchored near Mandapam, while portions of nearby roads were breached due to sea erosion.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: As per the latest bulletin by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the storm continued to move nearly northwards at about 5 kmph in the past 6 hours.

It remained positioned in the same area, roughly 80 km east of Karaikal in Puducherry. Read full story here.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: In the wake of Cyclone Ditwah bearing down on Tamil Nadu, union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed preparedness measures with general manager and teams of Southern Railways to ensure minimum disruption to rail services and ensure safety for passengers and coastal populations.

Among the measures included the establishment of dedicated helplines and passenger-assistance desks to support travellers facing uncertainties due to cancellations or rerouting.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: Strong winds and rough sea conditions were witnessed in Puducherry on Sunday morning as cyclonic storm ‘Ditwah’ approached Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline.

The IMD has advised residents to remain indoors, avoid coastal areas, and follow local administration instructions. Fishermen are warned not to venture into the sea along the affected coasts.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: A red alert was declared for parts of Tamil Nadu as extremely heavy rainfall is expected in some places, while heavy to very heavy rainfall is predicted at other places in the state.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is predicted at several places, with extremely heavy rain at isolated locations across Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Villuppuram, Chengalpattu, and Puducherry-Karaikal areas.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert as cyclonic storm Ditwah approached northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts.

The IMD has advised residents to remain indoors, avoid coastal areas, and follow local administration instructions. Fishermen are warned not to venture into the sea along the affected coasts.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday, offering all necessary support from the state for the Indians stranded at the Colombo airport due to Cyclone Ditwah.

Vijayan, in his letter, said the cyclone has caused severe disruptions at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, stranding nearly 300 Indian passengers, many of whom are from Kerala.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: Cyclone Ditwah, which wreaked havoc in Sri Lanka, has moved northwards at 5 kmph over the last six hours and will approach the north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and South Andhra Pradesh coasts by Sunday morning, the IMD said on early Sunday.

The cyclone will come within 25 km of the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts on Sunday evening.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: According to weather forecasts, heavy rains are expected in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu on November 30 until noon, due to the cyclonic system. Notably, Nagapattinam district alone has recorded 30 cm of rainfall in the last two days.

Puducherry is also expected to witness heavy rain and strong winds as Cyclone Ditwah advances, with high tides and rainfall affecting coastal areas.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said during the early hours of Sunday, November 30, that the state government is “in a state of readiness to face Cyclone Ditvah with various precautionary measures.”

“We will stay safe by following the guidelines provided by the government,” he wrote on X.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: The India Meteorological Department has issued orange alert for several Tamil Nadu districts as Cyclone Ditwah approaches the state's coast. Districts such as Chennai, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Kancheepuram along with the union territory of Puducherry are on orange alert till 7 am on Sunday.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: IMD shared an update on the movement of Cyclone Ditwah during the early hours of Sunday, November 30. At 2.25 am on Sunday morning, IMD said that the cyclone “moved nearly northwards with the speed of 05 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 2330 hrs IST of yesterday, the 29th November 2025 over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining North Tamil Nadu- Puducherry coasts, near latitude 10.7°N and longitude 80.6°E, about 90 km east-northeast of Vedaranniyam (India), 90 km east-southeast of Karaikal (India), 130 km north-northeast of Jaffna (Sri Lanka), 160 km south-southeast of Puducherry (India) and 260 km south of Chennai (India).”

“It is very likely to move nearly northwards parallel to North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts during next 24 hours. While moving northwards the cyclonic storm will be centered over southwest Bay of Bengal within a minimum distance 50 km and 25 km from the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline by early morning and evening of today, the 30th November respectively,” it added.

As Cyclone Ditwah approached closer to the coastal region of Tamil Nadu, 47 flights scheduled for Sunday have been cancelled at Chennai Airport due to the threat of heavy rain. Of the 47 flights, 36 are domestic, and 11 are international.

If the cyclone intensifies further, more flights are expected to be cancelled. Therefore, passengers scheduled to travel tomorrow are advised to contact their respective airlines to confirm departure timings and plan their travel accordingly, Chennai Airport authorities have said. (ANI)

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: Some 150 personnel of the National Disaster Relief Force departed from Chennai airport to Villupuram to prepare for Cyclone Ditwah, reported news agency ANI.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds hits Puducherry as Cyclone Ditwah advances closer.

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: Rain triggered by Cyclone Ditwah lashed coastal areas and Cauvery delta districts in the state on Saturday, with Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam districts bearing the brunt.

As normal life in Rameswaram and Nagapattinam was affected by continuous rain accompanied by gusty winds, State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister K K S S R Ramachandran said that 28 disaster response teams, including SDRF and NDRF teams, are on standby.

Cyclone Ditwah lay centred over the Vedaranyam coast in Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam district, according to the latest bulletin from the IMD. (PTI)

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: In view of Cyclone Ditwah bearing down on Tamil Nadu, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed preparedness measures on Saturday to ensure minimum disruption to rail services and passenger safety.

The coastal areas expected to be hit by the impending cyclone fall mainly under the Southern Railway zone.

"A dedicated network of helplines and passenger-assistance desks must be established to support travellers facing uncertainties due to cancellations or rerouting," a press statement from the railway ministry said. Read more. (PTI)

Cyclone Ditwah live updates: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday, offering all necessary support from the state for the Indians stranded at the Colombo airport due to Cyclone Ditwah.

Vijayan, in his letter, said the cyclone has caused severe disruptions at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, stranding nearly 300 Indian passengers, many of whom are from Kerala. Read more.

The Ministry of Railways on Saturday said that war rooms at the board, zonal and divisional levels have been activated ahead of the landfall of Cyclone ‘Ditwah’.

In a post on X, the ministry said that union minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw had reviewed preparedness with Southern Railway teams to ensure minimal disruption.

“Railways is closely coordinating with civil authorities and continuously monitoring the situation until normalcy returns,” the ministry said in a post on X.

36 flights to and from the Chennai airport have been cancelled on Saturday, while 47 flights have been cancelled on Sunday. Among the 47 flights cancelled on Sunday, 36 are domestic flights and 11 international.

Deputy Commandant Kapil K spoke to PTI news agency on the precautionary measures being taken ahead of Cyclone Ditwah's landfall. These include NDRF teams being deployed across coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

The teams are “fully equipped with flood and cyclone rescue gear, including boats, life jackets, lifebuoys and rope systems”, the commandant said.

“Specially trained dog squads are stationed in Pudukkottai and Puducherry to locate people trapped in collapsed buildings. In addition, 10 extra teams are being positioned strategically: five airlifted from Vadodara for Greater Chennai and five from Pune now heading to Villupuram, so they can be quickly moved wherever needed,” Kapil K added.

The cyclonic storm was centered 110 km southeast of Vedaranyam, 150 km southeast of Karaikal, 250 km south-southeast of Puducherry, and 350 km south of Chennai, PTI news agency reported.

Cyclone Ditwah will likely move north-northwest and approach the North Tamil Nadu–Puducherry–South Andhra Pradesh coasts by early November 30.

The district-level staff in Andhra Pradesh have been alerted and departments have taken precautionary measures before the storm makes landfall, Joint Collector of Nellore, Mogili Venkateswarlu, said.

“..Most areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were affected by this cyclone, but in Nellore district, only moderate rains occurred today,” Venkateswarlu told ANI news agency.

The joint collector said guidance has been issued to district-level officers, and all departments are ensuring necessary precautions for the storm.