Cyclone Ditwah intensified over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal Sri Lanka on November 29, 2025, prompting widespread disruptions across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as authorities braced for its approach toward the north Tamil Nadu coast. The cyclonic storm, moving north-northwest at 8 kmph, was centered approximately 300 km south-southeast of Puducherry and 400 km south of Chennai at 5:30 a.m., according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). With Sri Lanka reporting at least 80 deaths and 34 people missing from earlier impacts, the IMD issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm in 24 hours over delta districts like Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, and Pudukkottai, alongside orange alerts for Chennai and surrounding areas. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reviewed preparedness measures, deploying National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to vulnerable regions, including Puducherry and Karaikal, while Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force units were mobilized to coastal and delta areas.

Chennai International Airport authorities cancelled 54 scheduled flights on November 29, primarily affecting regional ATR turboprop services to destinations such as Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Thoothukudi, Salem, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaffna in Sri Lanka, with both departures and arrivals suspended until late evening. Airlines like IndiGo issued advisories urging passengers to avoid last-minute travel, citing risks from gusty winds up to 90 kmph and heavy downpours forecast over the next 48 hours. Southern Railway also announced cancellations, partial halts, and short terminations for select trains on November 28 and 29, exacerbating mobility challenges in the storm-hit corridor. Fishermen were advised to stay offshore, with rough seas expected to generate high tides and dangerous conditions along the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast.

Educational institutions across multiple districts shut down in response to the IMD's severe weather warnings, with full holidays declared for schools and colleges in Perambalur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Pudukottai, Puducherry, and Karaikal. In Villupuram, Thanjavur, and Tiruchi, only schools were closed, while colleges operated pending further updates. Pondicherry Central University postponed all examinations and cancelled classes entirely, following a Coast Guard alert on impending heavy rains. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) predicted very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, and Mayiladuthurai; intense spells in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, and Tiruvannamalai; and heavy to very heavy downpours in Salem, Kallakurichi, Perambalur, Tiruchi, Ariyalur, and delta districts like Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam.

Also Read: Cyclone Ditwah Leaves 80+ Dead in Sri Lanka; IMD Warns Indian Coast of Renewed Threat

As Cyclone Ditwah edges closer, expected to skirt the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry-south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early November 30 without direct landfall, state advisories emphasized evacuation from low-lying areas and stockpiling essentials. Relief camps were readied in high-risk zones, with electricity and water supply teams on standby for potential outages. The storm's rapid intensification from a depression on November 27 highlights the Bay of Bengal's volatile cyclone season, influenced by warmer sea surface temperatures, and serves as a reminder of recent events like Cyclone Fengal earlier in November. Officials urged residents to monitor IMD updates via apps and local alerts, prioritizing safety amid the second major weather system to threaten the region this month.

Also Read: Red Alert in Cauvery Delta as Cyclone Ditwah Nears Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, South Andhra Pradesh