Sri Lanka is confronting the devastating consequences of Cyclone Ditwah, which has left a trail of destruction with severe flooding and deadly landslides across the island. The cyclone’s intensity has crippled essential services and displaced numerous residents, leading to ongoing rescue and recovery operations in the most severely impacted districts.
The Disaster Management Centre has confirmed the significant damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah, with the death toll reaching 123. Adding to the tragedy, 130 individuals are reported missing. The Kandy District has tragically recorded the highest number of casualties with 51 deaths and 67 people still missing. Badulla District has confirmed 35 fatalities and 27 missing persons. Other affected areas include Kegalle (9 deaths), Matale (8 deaths), Nuwara Eliya (6 deaths), and Ampara (5 deaths).
The cyclone’s impact has been far-reaching, affecting over 373,000 people from more than 102,000 families due to floods, landslides, and powerful winds. A swift rescue operation saved approximately 40 passengers from a bus swept away by floodwaters on the Kala Oya Bridge, after they managed to reach the roof of a nearby house.
India has launched ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ to provide critical humanitarian assistance. An Indian Air Force aircraft has delivered 80 NDRF personnel, equipped with search dogs and essential relief supplies, to Sri Lanka. The Indian Navy’s INS Vikrant and INS Udaigiri have also delivered significant relief consignments. The Indian High Commission in Colombo has established an Emergency Help Desk at the airport for Indian nationals.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as Cyclone Ditwah moves closer to the coast. Expect light to moderate rain in many areas, with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall predicted for specific districts like Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, and Chengalpattu, along with Puducherry and Karaikal. Fourteen NDRF teams are deployed in vulnerable coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, with additional forces converging on Chennai to ensure robust disaster preparedness.