At least 56 people were killed and 14 others injured as Cyclonic Storm Ditwah wreaked havoc in Sri Lanka. Another 14 are reported missing after the storm completely destroyed four houses and damaged more than 600 others.
According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), nearly 44,000 people have been affected by the extreme weather conditions caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Ditwah, which began as a deep depression, has intensified into a cyclone over coastal Sri Lanka and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal.
Schools were shut and train services remained suspended in the Island nation as Cyclone Ditwah triggered heavy rains and landslides in and around Colombo. Flight services were also disrupted and some of them were diverted to South Indian cities.
Five international flights have been diverted from Colombo to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
Authorities have reportedly sounded a red-level flood alert for low-lying areas of Kelani River Valley for the next 48 hours.
Indian Navy deploys helicopters for rescue operations
As the flood-like situation gripped the nation, Sri Lanka sent an SOS to Indian Navy’s INS Vikrant, requesting assistance in the rescue operations, local media reported.
Sri Lankan authorities submitted a formal request to the Indian High Commission in Colombo.
Following the request, India agreed to deploy helicopters from the aircraft carrier currently docked in Colombo to support the rescue and relief operations.
Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for several districts in Tamil Nadu.
The IMD has predicted light to moderate rain and thunderstorms in isolated areas in Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukkudi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and others.
The Cyclonic Storm Ditwah is very likely to continue to move north-northwestwards across Sri Lanka ccoastand adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal and reach over southwest Bay of Bengal near North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early morning of November 30.
PM Modi offers condolences, expresses solidarity with Sri Lanka
In a social media post on X, PM Modi said expressed his heartfelt condolences to the people of Sri Lanka who have lost their loved ones due to Cyclone Ditwah.
He said that India has launched ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ to help Sri Lanka as it reels under Ditwah storm.
“In solidarity with our closest maritime neighbour, India has urgently dispatched relief materials and vital HADR support under Operation Sagar Bandhu. We stand ready to provide more aid and assistance as the situation evolves. Guided by India’s Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR, India continues to stand firmly with Sri Lanka in its hour of need,” Modi said.