Cyclone Ditwah has been moving with a speed of 8 kilometres per hour over the past six hours over the Southwest Bay of Bengal. It is located about 80 kilometres southeast of Jaffna, 190 kilometres from Karaikal and 400 kilometres south of Chennai. It is likely to continue to move further northwards and reach north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and South Andhra by early morning tomorrow.
Due to the cyclone, air and rail services are disrupted in Tamil Nadu. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Thiru Ramachandran held a video conference with district collectors to assess the situation. Talking to the media in Chennai this morning, he said, there has been no loss of lives till now. He said damage to fields and boats will be assessed after the Cyclonic storm crosses over. The Minister said, five teams of rescue forces have been moved to Villupuram. He appealed to the people to stay indoors and not to venture outside near water bodies and the sea.
Heavy rains continue to lash some areas of Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and the delta districts. Kodiyakarai in Nagapattinam district received 25 cms of rainfall yesterday. Parts of that district have received more than 10 cm of rainfall in the past 24 hours. Cuddalore and Villupuram, and the interior parts of the delta areas, have also received heavy rains since yesterday evening. Widespread heavy rains due to cyclone Ditwah have been recorded in some areas throughout Coastal Tamil Nadu.
According to the forecast, a red alert has been issued to Chennai, Chengalpet, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram today. These areas have been receiving moderate rains since yesterday. District collectors have been instructed to take necessary precautionary measures. NDRF teams have been deployed in several areas at Nagapattinam and nearby areas. According to the latest information, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Puducherry and Karaikal are likely to receive heavy rains till tomorrow morning. Weather experts say that more than rain, gusty winds are likely to create more impact. People living in low-lying areas have been shifted to safer places where food and shelter is ensured by the district administration. Toll-free numbers have been announced for emergency assistance.
