Cyclone Ditwah has unleashed its fury on Sri Lanka, resulting in widespread flooding and deadly landslides that have claimed at least 123 lives. The devastating storm has ravaged infrastructure and displaced a significant portion of the population, prompting urgent rescue and relief efforts across the affected districts. The full extent of the destruction is still being assessed by the Disaster Management Centre.
Official reports indicate that 123 people have died in Sri Lanka due to Cyclone Ditwah, with an additional 130 individuals reported missing. The Kandy District has borne the brunt of the casualties, registering 51 deaths and 67 people unaccounted for. In the Badulla District, 35 lives were lost, and 27 remain missing. Significant impacts have also been felt in Kegalle (9 deaths), Matale (8 deaths), Nuwara Eliya (6 deaths), and Ampara (5 deaths).
The cyclone’s fury has impacted a staggering 373,428 people, affecting 102,877 families through floods, landslides, and fierce winds. A remarkable rescue operation unfolded near the Kala Oya Bridge, where approximately 40 individuals were saved from a bus stranded by surging floodwaters. Passengers had climbed onto the roof of a nearby house to escape the rising water.
India has responded swiftly with ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu,’ deploying an Indian Air Force aircraft carrying 80 NDRF personnel, including search dogs and essential relief supplies to Sri Lanka. The Indian Navy’s INS Vikrant and INS Udaigiri have also contributed by delivering critical relief materials. The Indian High Commission in Colombo has established an emergency help desk to support Indian citizens impacted by the cyclone.
As Cyclone Ditwah nears the Indian coast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is forecast for several districts, including Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, and Chengalpattu, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal. Fourteen NDRF teams are on standby in vulnerable coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, with reinforcements heading to Chennai to ensure readiness for the approaching storm.