Cyclone Ditwah Wreaks Havoc in Sri Lanka, Leaves 46 Dead; Tamil Nadu Braces for Heavy Rains

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Cyclone Ditwah, which made landfall in Sri Lanka on Friday, has caused widespread devastation, claiming the lives of 46 people and leaving 23 missing. The storm's impact has been intensified by heavy rainfall, with over 300 mm of rain drenching the island's eastern and central regions in just 24 hours. A landslide in the central tea-growing district of Badulla has been particularly devastating, killing 21 people. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has confirmed that 43,991 people have been evacuated to schools and public shelters, including families rescued from rooftops as waters rose. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for several districts in Tamil Nadu, warning of light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, and lightning in the coming hours. The IMD's Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai has also issued a three-hour yellow alert for several districts in the state. The storm began as a deep depression and intensified into a cyclone, with the storm's name 'Ditwah' contributed by Yemen. The storm is currently located over coastal Sri Lanka and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, with river levels rising and a red-level flood warning issued for low-lying areas of the Kelani River valley, including Colombo. Relief efforts are underway, with over 200 mm of additional rain expected in central and northern regions. Key roads have been closed, and most trains have been cancelled. India has sent relief under Operation Sagar Bandhu, with more assistance ready if needed. The Sri Lankan government has confirmed that nearly 44,000 people have been affected, with around 20,500 army personnel deployed for relief and rescue operations. Schools have been closed, train services suspended, and the Colombo Stock Exchange halted trading early as heavy rain persisted. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has confirmed that India's relief mission has begun, with INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri handing over aid in Colombo under Operation Sagar Bandhu. The storm is expected to intensify in the coming hours, with the DMC warning that the situation could worsen. A-level exams have been postponed due to the extreme weather, and the Sri Lankan government has confirmed that the worst flooding this century was in 2003, killing 254 people. The Chennai MeT Department has said a yellow alert has been issued for isolated areas in Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukkudi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, and others with light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, and lightning likely.