Cyclone Ditwah leaves 366 dead in Sri Lanka; rain alert in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry

Several districts in Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore and Ranipet, continued to receive moderate rain on Monday as the remnants of cyclone Ditwah hovered close to the Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coasts. The system, which has weakened into a deep depression, is expected to further lose strength while remaining nearly stationary over the next 24 hours, according to the India Meteorological Department.

Continuous rain disrupted normal life in Chennai, leading to the cancellation of ten flights and widespread waterlogging. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin held a review meeting with district collectors to assess the situation, including damage to crops in the Cauvery delta region.

The Greater Chennai Corporation said it had 103 boats on standby for rescue operations in low-lying areas. About 60 National Disaster Response Force personnel and 30 from the State Disaster Response Force were also positioned across the city. Motor pumps have been deployed across all 15 zones to clear stagnant water, PTI reported.

From November 29 to December 1, around 20 trees were uprooted in the city. Relief efforts continued, with the civic body providing food to nearly 1.16 lakh people over two days. Stocks of Aavin milk powder, rice, dal and palm oil have been readied for distribution to vulnerable groups.

Rainfall varied across the city, with Ennore recording the highest at 129.90 mm and Uthandi the lowest at 4.80 mm between 8.30 am and 2 pm. Schools in Chennai declared a half-day holiday anticipating heavier spells in the evening. Traffic slowed down in several areas due to waterlogging and fallen trees.

In Rameswaram, nearly 200 habitations in Thangachimadam remained marooned after two days of heavy rainfall. The IMD said the deep depression lay about 50 km east of Chennai and is likely to move slowly northwards parallel to the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coasts before weakening into a depression. Private weather bloggers indicated that rain intensity could increase in Chennai as dense cloud bands approached the coast.

Ditwah devastation leaves 366 dead in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka on Monday announced a special public–private fund to support recovery from the catastrophic floods and landslides triggered by cyclone Ditwah, even as the death toll climbed to 366 and 367 people remained missing, according to the Disaster Management Centre.

Kandy district recorded the highest casualties at 88, followed by Nuwara Eliya with 75 and Badulla with 71 deaths. Over 11.5 lakh people from more than 3.16 lakh families have been affected, and 1,564 people are currently housed in safety centres.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s office said the government has begun discussions with the World Bank to assess the extent of the damage across sectors. The World Bank will carry out a Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE), with the report expected within two weeks. The president noted that the scale of destruction was far greater than what initial assessments showed.

A joint management committee will oversee the recovery fund, which will pool contributions from both the public and private sectors. The government said the Treasury alone cannot bear the financial burden of reconstruction.

The DMC forecast further spells of rain in the Northern, Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces, along with Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. It warned the public to stay alert to the possibility of localised strong winds and lightning.

International assistance continued to arrive. The UK announced $890,000 in humanitarian support, China pledged $1 million in cash and 10 million Renminbi worth of relief supplies, while Australia committed 1 million Australian dollars. Nepal also pledged $200,000.

India’s relief operations intensified, with INS Sukanya docking at Trincomalee carrying food and essential supplies as part of ongoing humanitarian support. Earlier, Indian Air Force helicopters and naval units were deployed for evacuation and aid delivery. Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, the last group of 104 stranded Indian nationals was evacuated from Colombo to Thiruvananthapuram early on Monday.