Cyclone Ditwah Update: Puducherry, Chennai Schools Closed Today? Sri Lanka Death Toll Rises To 334 | India News
It has been reported that cyclone Ditwah, which developed over the southwestern Bay of Bengal, weakened and turned into a deep depression, bringing relief to the northern parts of Tamil Nadu, where very heavy rain warnings were previously issued.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday described the ongoing extreme weather crisis as the worst natural disaster the country has faced and promised full government support to recover from the disaster.
He stated that the State of Emergency currently in force is limited only to disaster management and will not restrict civil liberties, adding that urgent measures have been taken to restore basic services, including water supply, electricity and communication networks, which have been disrupted in many regions, Xinhua news agency reported.
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Death toll rises in Sri Lanka
At least 334 people lost their lives and 370 people are still missing as Cyclone Ditwah caused massive damage in Sri Lanka, local media reported IANS quoting the Disaster Management Center (DMC).
Communication challenges continued to complicate rescue and coordination efforts in some of the worst-hit areas.
India’s rescue efforts in Sri Lanka
Indian rescue teams are coordinating with the Sri Lankan Air Force, Navy, Army, Police and local first responders to assist flood-affected communities. Evacuations, material deliveries and emergency support efforts continue across the island.
Hurricane Ditwah Weakening
The Regional Meteorological Center (RMC) said that the system lost strength while traveling parallel to the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast.
According to the last 24-hour rainfall data recorded as of Sunday morning, the highest rainfall amount was seen in Karaikal with 19 cm, followed by Sembanarkovil in Mayiladuthurai district with 17 cm.
The weakened system, which spread for about 180 km as it moved northwards over the southwestern Bay of Bengal, was positioned this morning about 110 km southeast of Puducherry, 140 km northeast of Vedaranyam and 180 km south-southeast of Chennai.
The cyclone, now a deep depression, continued to move parallel to the Tamil Nadu coast without making landfall. As the system weakens further, the minimum distance between the weather system and the Tamil Nadu coastline may drop to around 30 km and the reduced intensity means the threat of widespread heavy rainfall has greatly diminished, meteorologists said.
The deep depression is expected to weaken further in the coming hours and turn into a significant low pressure area.
Tamil Nadu, Puducherry Weather
The weather office on Monday predicted light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms in parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Isolated areas of Tiruvallur district may still experience heavy showers.
Light to moderate rainfall is expected to continue until December 6 in many areas. In Chennai and surrounding areas, the sky is expected to remain generally cloudy and moderate rain is expected to fall with thunder and lightning in some places.
Are Schools in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry Closed Today?
Puducherry Home Minister A. Namassivayam, in his post on social media platform Instagram, stated that all government-aided schools and private schools in the four districts of the Union Territory (UT) will remain closed on Monday, December 1, due to heavy rain warning.
The Tamil Nadu government has not declared holidays for schools in Chennai at this time.
Schools will remain closed in Nellore and Annamayya districts of Andhra Pradesh today.
(With inputs from IANS)
