Cyclone Ditwah HIGHLIGHTS: Depression moves inland, heavy rain alert for Chennai

Cyclone Ditwah batters Mayiladuthurai; winds snap reporter’s umbrella

With Cyclone Ditwah approaching Tamil Nadu, Mayiladuthurai has been battered by nonstop rains. Thanthi TV visuals show the winds breaking a reporter’s umbrella.

Cyclone Ditwah: Sri Lankan army rescues mother and daughter

The Sri Lankan army rescued a mother-daughter duo stranded in the Sri Lankan floods caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The cyclone has left 120 dead and wreaked massive destruction across the island nation.

Cyclone Ditwah: Check out TN districts which have received red and orange alerts

- Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has sounded red alerts for extremely heavy rain (over 20 cm in a 24-hour period) at one or two places in these districts: Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Chengalpattu and Puducherry-Karaikal on November 29, and over Tiruvallur and Ranipet tomorrow (November 30).

- An orange alert (11-20 cm) for heavy rainfall has been issued to Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Ranipet on November 29, and over Kancheepuram, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Vellore, Tirupattur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai, and Villuppuram on November 30.

- Fishermen have been advised to refrain from going into the sea as strong surface winds of 70–80 kmph, gusting up to 90 kmph, are likely over the delta region, adjoining coastal districts, and the Puducherry–Karaikal area on Saturday.

Emergency helpline issued for Indians stranded at Sri Lanka airports

- According to the High Commission, Indian citizens facing distress at any airport or location in Sri Lanka can contact the emergency number +94 773727832, which is also accessible via WhatsApp. The mission said it is already assisting stranded Indian passengers at BIA, providing essentials such as food and drinking water.

Rain triggered by Cyclone Ditwah lashes TN coastal, Cauvery delta districts

- Cyclone Ditwah brought heavy rain to Tamil Nadu’s coastal and delta districts on Saturday, affecting areas like Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore and parts of Chennai.

- A tourist van was stranded in Ramanathapuram but all passengers escaped safely; officials warned people to stay indoors and barred tourists from visiting Dhanushkodi.

- Schools in vulnerable districts were closed as strong winds, high tides and intense rain continued along the coast.

Pondicherry Central University postpones all exams due to Cyclone Ditwah

The Pondicherry Central University has announced that all exams scheduled to be held on Saturday have been postponed and a holiday was declared for all classes at the university because of Cyclone Ditwah which is heading towards the union territory coast.

A release from the Registrar of the University on Friday night said that the postponement of examinations and also cancellation of classes were due to a communication received from the Coast Guard about the cyclone and the heavy rains.

A revised date of the examinations would be announced in course of time, the release said.

Flight cancellations mount across TN as Ditwah nears

-As a precaution amid the cyclonic storm and expected heavy rainfall in southern and central districts, 16 flights from Chennai to Thoothukudi, Madurai and Trichy were cancelled.

-Sixteen return flights from Thoothukudi, Trichy and Madurai to Chennai were also suspended.

-Additionally, 22 flights from Madurai, Trichy and Puducherry to Bengaluru and Hyderabad have been suspended.

NDRF teams deployed to TN and Puducherry

Within India, the NDRF has deployed 14 teams across vulnerable coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, with additional teams earmarked for Puducherry and 10 more heading to Chennai from bases in Pune and Vadodara.

Food and shelter ready for over 1 lakh people in Cuddalore, says Minister Panneerselvam

- Inspections were carried out under the District Collector’s supervision to ensure public safety amid heavy rainfall.

- Arrangements have been made to provide accommodation and food for more than 1 lakh people in Cuddalore district.

- The government has identified 239 vulnerable areas likely to be affected by the rains.

- A total of 925 pregnant women requiring possible medical support have been identified, with steps taken to admit them to nearby hospitals for timely care. --- MRK Panneerselvam, TN Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare

Tamils stranded in Sri Lanka after heavy rains cause flight cancellations

More than 300 people, including many from Tamil Nadu, have been stranded in Sri Lanka after heavy rains forced the suspension of flight services on Saturday, with Tamil Nadu’s Public Department Secretary coordinating with the Indian High Commission in Colombo on the Chief Minister’s instructions to facilitate their safe return. Torrential rains and floods triggered by Cyclone Ditwah have killed 123 people across Sri Lanka, with another 130 reported missing. - Daily Thanthi