Cyclone Ditwah Approaches Tamil Nadu: Flight Disruptions and Weather Alerts

Post by : Raina Nasser

With Cyclone Ditwah advancing toward the coasts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, local authorities are ramping up emergency measures. As the region braces for fierce winds and heavy rainfall over the next two days, airport operations have been significantly impacted, and widespread alerts have been issued.

This cyclone, currently moving across coastal Sri Lanka and the nearby southwestern Bay of Bengal, has gained strength, prompting an orange warning for multiple districts. Sri Lanka has already suffered considerable destruction, reporting at least 123 fatalities and over 130 individuals still unaccounted for. Nearly 44,000 residents have been evacuated to government shelters due to persistent rainfall and flooding.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Ditwah is moving north-northwest at approximately 8 kmph. As of 5:30 AM, the cyclone was located over the southwestern Bay of Bengal and northern Sri Lanka, around 300 km south-southeast of Puducherry and about 400 km south of Chennai.

Meteorologists predict that the cyclone will progress toward north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh, with landfall expected by early Sunday. Wind speeds along the coast are currently between 50 and 60 kmph but are anticipated to escalate to 70–80 kmph, with gusts possibly reaching up to 90 kmph. The sea conditions, already rough, are likely to worsen considerably until Sunday.

In response to the adverse weather, Chennai Airport has canceled 54 flights planned for Saturday. The suspended services include regional flights to various cities like Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Thoothukudi, Salem, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaffna. Airport officials made this decision after evaluating the dangers posed by high winds and intense rain as the cyclone approaches. Passengers are advised to refrain from non-essential travel to the airport.

Rail services have also seen disruptions, with trains from Chennai, Kanyakumari, and Madurai to Rameswaram halted at Mandapam, where alternative transport has been arranged for passengers. Trains departing Rameswaram will now only operate from Mandapam until weather conditions improve.

The Regional Meteorological Centre has issued warnings for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across several districts. Consequently, schools and colleges have been closed in regions including Perambalur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Pudukottai, Puducherry, and Karaikal. In places like Villupuram, Thanjavur, and Tiruchi, only schools are shutting down for the moment. Pondicherry University has postponed exams and declared a holiday following a severe weather alert from the Coast Guard.

Chennai and neighboring areas are anticipated to experience heavy rainfall along with strong winds. Regions like Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, and Mayiladuthurai may face particularly intense downpours, while Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, and Tiruvannamalai may also experience significant rainfall. Delta districts, including Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam, are also likely to receive heavy precipitation.

Authorities urge residents to remain indoors, steer clear of flooded areas, and follow government advisories closely. Fishermen are strongly cautioned against venturing into the sea due to hazardous conditions. Along the coast of Thanjavur, about 1,500 mechanized boats and over 2,000 traditional boats have been securely anchored as a precautionary measure.

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, conducted discussions with District Collectors from 14 districts on Friday to assess preparedness measures. A total of 16 teams from the State Disaster Response Force and 12 from the National Disaster Response Force have been strategically positioned in vulnerable areas such as Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, and Mayiladuthurai.

Authorities remain on high alert as Cyclone Ditwah is expected to intensify before landfall. The public is urged to exercise caution until conditions improve.