Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry are bracing for further torrential rainfall as cyclone Ditwah continues its approach toward the Indian coast, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Saturday.
The IMD has issued a red alert for these regions. According to the latest IMD bulletin, the cyclonic storm is expected to intensify and move over the southwest Bay of Bengal, reaching near the north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early Sunday morning.
State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran stated that it is not yet certain whether the cyclone will make landfall near Chennai, but assured that the Tamil Nadu government is fully prepared to carry out rescue and relief operations on a war footing.
In Chennai, airport authorities cancelled around 54 flights to various destinations owing to the cyclone’s impact.
Speaking to the media, IMD Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said sea winds along the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts have already strengthened to 70–80 kilometres per hour, gusting up to 90 km/h. He explained that the cyclone is likely to pass approximately 50 kilometres off the Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coast on Sunday morning, but its effects will continue to be felt until the evening.
The IMD chief emphasised that no major structural damage is anticipated, though standing crops may suffer damage.
“Heavy rainfall was recorded in coastal Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry due to its impact in the last 24 hours. We have sounded a red alert for these regions... Kerala can also experience isolated incidents of heavy to very heavy rainfall,” he said.
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“People living in these areas should be careful and avoid venturing out unless necessary. The rain can lead to low-lying inundation and flooding,” he added. Dr Mohapatra confirmed that fishermen in the affected states have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea.
“Sea winds have reached speeds of 50 to 60 kilometres per hour near the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. Waves up to 8 metres high are being recorded near Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,” he said.
He urged both the administration and residents of coastal areas to remain extremely vigilant.
The cyclone has been named ‘Ditwah’, a name suggested by Yemen. It refers to a lagoon and is likely named after Detwah Lagoon, a large, saline lagoon on the northwest coast of the island of Socotra in Yemen.
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