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

India helps Sri Lanka in rescue efforts as death toll due to Cyclone Ditwah crosses 200

- Sri Lanka intensified rescue and relief operations on Sunday with India’s assistance after Cyclone Ditwah caused severe floods and landslides.

- The Disaster Management Centre reported 212 deaths and 218 missing since Thursday.

- Nearly 10 lakh people from 2.7 lakh families have been affected by the extreme weather.

ALSO READ: India helps Sri Lanka in rescue efforts as death toll due to Cyclone Ditwah crosses 200

Cyclone Ditwah continues to bring more rains to TN, three killed in related incidents

- The cyclone is expected to move parallel to the coastline of northern parts of the state and neighbouring Puducherry in the next 24 hours, the weather office said today.

- The minimum distance of the centre of the cyclone from north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts is about 70 km, the bulletin issued by the Met Office on Sunday afternoon said.

- Strong surface winds with speed reaching 60-70 km ph gusting to 80 km ph is likely to prevail over the North Coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

ALSO READ: Cyclone Ditwah continues to bring more rains to TN, three killed in related incidents

Cyclone Ditwah: Rain likely in 7 districts of Tamil Nadu till 1 pm today

The Chennai Meteorological Centre on Sunday said that seven districts in Tamil Nadu are likely to receive light rainfall till 1 pm. According to the updated forecast, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai and Cuddalore districts may get light showers this afternoon, said a Daily Thanthi report.

Also Read: Cyclone Ditwah: Rain likely in 7 districts of Tamil Nadu till 1 pm today

Cyclone Ditwah: Flight services resume in Chennai airport

With the intensity of Cyclone Ditwah and the associated heavy rain warnings easing, flight operations from Chennai airport to Thoothukudi, Madurai and Tiruchy resumed as normal on Sunday. According to a Daily Thanthi report, Airport authorities said that only two flights on the Chennai–Jaffna sector remain cancelled for the day, and advised passengers to check schedules with their respective airlines before travelling.

Also Read: Cyclone Ditwah: Flight services resume in Chennai airport

Coastal Tamil Nadu on alert as Cyclone Ditwah advances northward

Coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are bracing for intense rainfall as Cyclonic Storm Ditwah continues its northward trajectory in the southwest Bay of Bengal. The system, moving at 7 kmph, is set to pass within 70 km of the coast by noon and a mere 30 km by Sunday evening. The storm has already delivered substantial rainfall,with Karaikal receiving 19.10 cm and Mayiladuthurai 14.55 cm in the last 24 hours. Chennai experienced moderate showers, with Ennore recording 5.5 cm. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued warnings for "heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with extremely heavy rain" in districts including Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Villupuram.

Also Read: Coastal Tamil Nadu on alert as Cyclone Ditwah advances northward

Ditwah nears TN coasts, Chennai on orange alert

- Under the Ditwah influence, Chennai started receiving intermittent rain from Saturday evening, with Meenambakkam recording 8.6 mm rainfall and Nungambakkam 6.2 mm.

- According to the reports of the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), the cyclonic storm was moving northwestward at a speed of 10 kmph, and was centred at 190 km southeast of Puducherry and 290 km south of Chennai at 5:30 pm on Saturday.

- Meanwhile, a red alert has been issued for Tiruvallur and Ranipet districts, orange alert for Kancheepuram, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Vellore, Tirupattur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai and Villuppuram districts, and yellow alert for Salem, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore districts and Puducherry on Sunday.

ALSO READ: Ditwah nears TN coasts, Chennai on orange alert

WRD begins water release from Chennai reservoirs

- Flood alerts have been issued to residents living in low-lying areas along the Adyar and Kosasthalaiyar rivers following the increased outflow.

- At Chembarambakkam, officials began discharging 3,000 cusecs from 8 pm on Saturday. The reservoir held 2,978 mcft of water against its full capacity of 3,645 mcft, with the water level at 21.56 ft, compared to the full reservoir level of 24 ft.

- In Red Hills, the WRD initially released 200 cusecs and gradually increased the outflow to 1,500 cusecs as inflow continued to rise. The reservoir’s storage stood at 2,757 mcft, against a total capacity of 3,300 mcft.

ALSO READ: WRD begins water release from Chennai reservoirs

Hit by rain, TN farmers seek quick crop loss compensation

- In a joint statement, association president S Gunasekaran and general secretary PS Masilamani said that nearly 3.5 lakh plantation farms spread across 350 acres in Pirancheri, Melacheval, Sokkalingapuram and several neighbouring villages in Cheranmahadevi Taluk, Tirunelveli district, had collapsed in clusters, leaving farmers devastated.

- The leaders noted that even as the South West monsoon was tapering off, the onset of the North East monsoon turned unexpectedly intense, damaging kuruvai paddy at the harvest stage and submerging young samba and thaladi crops.

- They accused agricultural officials of conducting only superficial assessments and failing to disburse relief as earlier assured by Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister MRK Panneerselvam.

ALSO READ: Hit by rain, TN farmers seek quick crop loss compensation

Advanced warning system, subway barriers in place to mitigate Ditwah damage

- According to corporation officials, the EWS platform is the first of its kind among urban local bodies in Tamil Nadu. The system is designed to help field teams respond faster and guide residents towards the nearest support facilities during emergencies.

- Officials said more locations will be added based on field assessments, and the integrated systems would help shorten response time and minimise damage during heavy rainfall events.

- Meanwhile, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management KKSSR Ramachandran told reporters that no loss of life had been reported so far. However, 16 cattle had died, and 24 huts were fully damaged.

ALSO READ: Advanced warning system, subway barriers in place to mitigate Ditwah damage