Thiruvananthapuram: The meteorological department has issued a yellow alert for five districts in Kerala on Saturday, warning of possible heavy rainfall as Cyclone Ditwah, which formed near Sri Lanka, approaches. The alert covers Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts.

On Friday evening, the storm was located 510 kilometres southeast of Chennai and 300 kilometres southeast of Karaikal. It is predicted to reach the coasts of northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh by the evening of 30 November.

Red Alert in Tamil Nadu Coastal Districts as Winds Pick Up

With Cyclone Ditwah forming in the Bay of Bengal, wind speeds have increased along the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu. A red alert has been declared for coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, with the meteorological centre forecasting more than 20 cm of rainfall on Saturday in Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Chengalpattu districts, and Puducherry.

Winds are blowing at speeds of 35–45 km/h in these coastal areas, prompting the suspension of train services over the Rameswaram–Pamban bridge. Trains from various locations to Rameswaram are now operating only up to Mandapam railway station, and services passing through coastal districts have been diverted.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed along the Kaveri riverbank to assist with precautionary measures. The Chief Minister chaired a meeting to review the state’s preparedness in response to the cyclone.

In addition, strong winds are affecting districts along the Kaveri river, and fire and rescue personnel, as well as State Disaster Response Force teams, have been deployed in the coastal districts of Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvallur. All teams are equipped with necessary tools for rescue operations.