India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that Cyclone Ditwah is very likely to move north-northwest wards across Sri Lanka coast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal and reach over southwest Bay of Bengal near North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early morning of Sunday.

 

In the wake of the cyclone, fishermen are advised not to venture into coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, South Andhra Pradesh and Sri Lanka coasts till 1st of next month. Talking exclusively to Akashvani News, senior IMD scientist RK Jenamani, said that Cyclonic Storm over coastal Sri Lanka and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal moved slowly northwards with the speed of 3 kmph during the past 6 hours. 

 

The Met department has issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal tomorrow. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall is likely to prevail over Kerala and Mahe. IMD has also predicted thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and gusty winds in Andaman and Nicobar Islands tomorrow. The weather agency forecast conditions of fog at isolated places over Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha. 

 

Meanwhile, the air quality in Delhi-NCR continues to remain very poor. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the average Air Quality Index (AQI) of the region was recorded at 363 as of 8 PM today. In view of the deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management has imposed Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan in the national capital and adjoining areas.