A tense atmosphere surrounds Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as Cyclone Ditwah heads toward the coastline with increasing intensity. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that the storm has started moving closer to the north Tamil Nadu–Puducherry belt, prompting a red alert in four districts.
According to IMD, Cyclone Ditwah heads toward the region from the southwest Bay of Bengal after moving northwest at a speed of 8 kmph. The cyclone is currently around 480 km south-southeast of Puducherry and 580 km south-southeast of Chennai. Officials say the system also lies close to Sri Lanka, with nearby areas like Batticaloa and Trincomalee already experiencing strong weather conditions.
IMD noted that the storm’s position near latitude 7.9°N and longitude 81.3°E indicates continued movement toward the Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coast. With this path, heavy rainfall, intense winds, and rough sea conditions may hit coastal regions over the next 24–48 hours.
Authorities have urged fishermen to avoid the sea and asked residents in low-lying areas to stay alert. Disaster management teams in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are preparing for emergency response as the cyclone moves closer.
