Cyclone Ditwah Update: Heavy Rain Batters North Tamil Nadu, 3 Lives Lost

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A red alert has been issued for parts of North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh as Cyclone Ditwah continues to move close to the coastline. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed the cyclone's location over the southwest Bay of Bengal, approximately 80 km from the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline. According to the IMD, Cyclone Ditwah has moved nearly northwards at a speed of 7 kmph in the past six hours. The system is expected to remain over the southwest Bay of Bengal, tracking close to the shore. In the next 24 hours, it is likely to move nearly northwards parallel to the North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts. Heavy showers have disrupted normal life across multiple districts in north Tamil Nadu, with severe waterlogging reported in the Cauvery delta. Coastal towns such as Rameswaram and Nagapattinam have seen inundation in several low-lying areas. The IMD has warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across multiple districts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry over the next 24 hours. Three people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents linked to Cyclone Ditwah, according to state revenue and disaster management minister KKSSR Ramachandran. To tackle the situation, 28 disaster response teams have been deployed, with 10 additional teams expected from other states. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea due to high sea conditions. The IMD has predicted strong surface winds of 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph, along the north coastal Tamil Nadu-Puducherry stretch. The sea conditions are expected to gradually improve by the morning of December 1.