Cyclone Ditwah tightens grip: Red alert expanded, schools shut as storm nears Tamil Nadu coast

Chennai: Cyclone Ditwah continues to advance menacingly towards the Tamil Nadu coast, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to escalate warnings and expand red alerts across multiple districts. The state administration has sprung into action, declaring local holidays and urging extreme caution as the cyclone, currently 560 km from Chennai, is predicted to intensify.

The cyclone’s initial impact was felt as heavy rains lashed parts of Rameswaram last night. In response, the Ramanathapuram District Collector, Simran Jeet Singh, declared a holiday for schools in Rameswaram taluk for today, November 28.

Simultaneously, a red alert has been issued for four districts for today—Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, and Pudukkottai. These regions are bracing for very heavy rainfall, with predictions of more than 20 centimetres of precipitation. The public in these districts has been strongly advised to remain vigilant and avoid venturing out.

The IMD reports that Cyclone Ditwah, forming in the Bay of Bengal, is slowly moving from the sea area adjacent to Sri Lanka. The storm system is currently centred 560 km from Chennai and is moving at a speed of 10 km per hour.

The alert level is set to be raised further tomorrow, November 29. A red alert has been issued for six districts and two union territories: Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, along with Puducherry and Karaikal. Given that November 29 is a Saturday, a public holiday, authorities have explicitly asked the public and students to avoid leaving their homes unnecessarily, as this will aid in ensuring safety and streamlining emergency response efforts.

Echoing the official warnings, Delta Weatherman Hemachandran stated that the weather conditions are poised for a complete transformation as Cyclone Ditwah approaches the coast near Chennai. His analysis suggests that the system’s movement will lead to a severe intensification of rainfall and wind patterns across northern Tamil Nadu.

The state government is continuously monitoring the situation. Precautionary measures are in full swing, with relief forces kept on standby and advisories actively disseminated to communities in low-lying areas. The public is urged to rely solely on official announcements from the IMD and district administrations and to disregard unverified rumours. The movement of the cyclone will be closely tracked over the next 24 hours, with further updates expected as the situation develops.