Cyclone 'Ditwah' Nears Tamil Nadu Coast, CM Stalin Reviews Disaster Response
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A cyclonic storm named 'Ditwah', formed near the Sri Lanka coast, is moving towards the north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts, according to Regional Meteorological Centre Director B Amudha. The storm is expected to bring strong winds, heavy rain, and rough seas in the next few days. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has convened an emergency meeting with the State Disaster Management Authority to review the state's disaster management preparedness. The RMC has issued a red alert in several districts in the Cauvery Delta region, including Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai, indicating extremely heavy rainfall of over 20 cm in 24 hours. A red alert has also been issued for Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, and Chengalpattu for November 20 and 30. The storm is expected to bring gale-force winds of 60-80 kmph, with gusts up to 90 kmph, near the storm centre, and 35-45 kmph winds with gusts up to 55 kmph in the outer bands. Fishermen have been advised to avoid the south, central, southwest, and southeast Bay of Bengal for the next five days. The storm could bring significant relief to Chennai, which has received only 31% of its normal seasonal rainfall so far. However, the possibility of landslides depends on the storm's track and speed. The state government has activated its disaster management systems, including the Chennai Real-Time Flood Forecasting System, the Integrated Flood Monitoring Center, and the TN Alert app. The Chief Minister has directed all government departments to coordinate and serve the people in the wake of the impending storm.
