Cyclone Ditwah Downgraded, Heavy Rain Expected in Tamil Nadu as Storm Moves North

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{ "title": "Cyclone Ditwah Downgraded, Heavy Rain Expected in Tamil Nadu as Storm Moves North", "article": "Cyclone Ditwah, a powerful storm over the Bay of Bengal, has weakened into a deep depression, authorities said on Sunday. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system is moving northwards at 10 kmph and is expected to further weaken into a depression by Monday noon. The IMD reported that the center of the deep depression is approximately 50 km from the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts. A red category warning has been issued for north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and nearby south Andhra Pradesh coasts. The storm has already claimed three lives in Tamil Nadu, with rain-related incidents being reported across the state. The IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rain in isolated areas of Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Vellore, and Ranipet districts. Gale winds of 60-70 kmph, with gusts up to 80 kmph, are expected over the north coastal parts of Tamil Nadu and the Puducherry and Karaikal areas. Squally winds of 55-65 kmph, with gusts up to 75 kmph, are also predicted over nearby north coastal Tamil Nadu districts and the south coastal Tamil Nadu region. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has reported a rising death toll of 334, with nearly 400 people missing and over 1.3 million affected across the island due to floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka has evacuated the final group of stranded Indian passengers under Operation Sagar Bandhu. External affairs minister S Jaishankar said another Indian Air Force aircraft arrived in Colombo on Sunday carrying disaster-response supplies. Schools in several districts of Tamil Nadu had announced their closure earlier, but there is no confirmed information on whether schools will remain closed today. Students are advised to contact their institutions for the latest updates. In Puducherry, all private and government-aided institutions will remain closed on Monday, December 1, as announced by the union territory's home and education minister A Namassivayam. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai has forecast light to moderate rain in a few places across Tamil Nadu and the Puducherry and Karaikal region, along with the chance of thunderstorms and lightning in one or two areas. Light to moderate rainfall is also expected in south coastal Andhra Pradesh and the Rayalaseema region, with heavy rain at isolated locations."