Kerala's Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, intervened on Sunday, November 30, to help Malayalis who were stranded in Sri Lanka following the extensive destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The Chief Minister has written to Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, pointing out that approximately 60 Malayalis were stuck at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport after their connecting flights were cancelled because of the cyclone's disruption.
This intervention followed reports that several Indian passengers, including Malayalis returning to Kerala from Saudi Arabia, had been left stranded at the Colombo airport, as torrential rain and high winds seriously affected flight services throughout the island nation.
According to the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department, Indian citizens currently stranded in Sri Lanka can now seek help from an emergency assistance desk established by the Indian High Commission at the Colombo airport.
Passengers who require assistance can also contact the helpline number, +94 773727832, which is also available on WhatsApp. The High Commission of India is supplying essential items, including food and drinking water, to the affected travellers.
Meanwhile, the High Commission of India in Colombo confirmed that the Acting High Commissioner, Dr Satyanjal Pandey, met with the stranded passengers and guaranteed them all possible help.
He confirmed that the Government of India would ensure their prompt return, amidst Sri Lanka’s current crisis of flooding, landslides, and severe service interruptions brought on by Cyclone Ditwah.
Since Saturday, the rainfall triggered by Cyclone Ditwah has battered the coastal and delta districts of Tamil Nadu, disrupting daily life in several regions. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that no landfall is anticipated.
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