Cyclone Ditwah LIVE Updates: Storm to Reach Tamil Nadu by Sunday; 46 Dead in Sri Lanka

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday said Cyclonic Storm Ditwah is currently tracking over coastal Sri Lanka and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, moving north-northwest. The system is expected to approach the Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts by the early hours of November 30.

As of 8:30 am (IST) on November 28, the cyclone was positioned near 8.3°N, 81.0°E—approximately 40 km southwest of Trincomalee and 100 km northwest of Batticaloa in Sri Lanka. On the Indian side, it lay 320 km south-southeast of Karaikal, 430 km south-southeast of Puducherry, and 530 km south of Chennai.

According to the IMD, the system will continue moving along the Sri Lanka coast before emerging into the southwest Bay of Bengal and heading toward north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh by early November 30.

Heavy Rainfall Alerts in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh

With the storm advancing, the Regional Met Office has issued a red alert for several Cauvery Delta districts—Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai—till November 30.

Cyclone warning signal No. 2 has been hoisted at Puducherry port. Sea conditions remain rough, with strong waves and gusty winds reported along the coast.

A cyclone alert is in place for north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh, and authorities have advised coastal residents to stay vigilant as the system moves closer.

Cyclone Ditwah Leaves Trail of Destruction in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the cyclone has caused severe damage, with at least 46 deaths reported and 23 people missing, according to Reuters. The national weather service has warned that the storm may intensify further over the next 12 hours.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said 43,991 people have been evacuated to schools and public shelters. Schools remain closed, train services have been suspended, and the Colombo Stock Exchange halted trading early due to worsening weather conditions.