Cyclone Ditwah Brings Chaos to Tamil Nadu: Flights Cancelled, Trains Disrupted
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Tamil Nadu is bracing for the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which is expected to make landfall in the region soon. The storm has already caused widespread disruptions, with dozens of flights cancelled and train services affected. A review meeting was held on November 29 to assess the impact on Chennai Airport, where officials were briefed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on expected conditions. The airport authorities have taken necessary precautions to minimize disruptions. As of Saturday, 36 domestic and 11 international flights have been cancelled, according to PIB Chennai. The situation is likely to worsen on Sunday if the cyclone makes landfall. The Southern Railway has announced service changes due to strong winds and rain affecting coastal districts. Train movement on the Pamban Bridge was temporarily halted but is now being restored. The ministry of railways has activated war rooms at the Board, zonal, and divisional levels to continuously monitor the situation. Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has reviewed preparedness with Southern Railway teams to ensure minimal disruption. Cyclone Ditwah is currently centred over the Vedaranyam coast in Nagapattinam district. The IMD has projected the system to move north-northwest and approach the North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry-South Andhra Pradesh coasts by early November 30. The IMD has not confirmed a precise landfall point, but the government is fully geared up to carry out rescue and relief efforts on a war footing. A red alert has been issued for two districts, Tiruvallur and Ranipet, due to the possibility of heavy rain. Heavy rain has triggered disruptions in coastal and Cauvery delta districts, including Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam. Extremely heavy rain is expected at one or two locations in Tiruvallur and Ranipet districts. The sea has turned turbulent along several stretches, damaging mechanised boats and causing erosion. The Regional Meteorological Centre has issued a red alert for Tiruvallur and Ranipet districts due to the possibility of heavy rain. Winds are expected to blow up to 40-60 km/h in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
