Cyclone Ditwah, the fierce weather system that wreaked havoc in Sri Lanka with more than 120 fatalities, has significantly weakened as it approached the Indian coast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed early Monday, December 1, 2025. As of 8:30 am IST, the remnant deep depression was centered roughly 50 km east-southeast of Chennai, having moved northwards at a sluggish pace of 5-10 kmph over the past several hours.
The cyclone had earlier exited Sri Lanka, cutting a deadly path across the island with more than 120 casualties and widespread infrastructure damage, according to Sri Lankan officials. “We noticed Ditwah exiting Sri Lanka and heading towards the Indian coast,” said Athula Karunanayake, director general of Sri Lanka’s meteorology department. The indirect effects there, including violent winds and persistent rains, are expected to linger.
Storm Moves Closer to Indian Coast
After crossing Sri Lanka, Ditwah found itself swirling over the southwest Bay of Bengal and soon drew within dangerous proximity to the Indian shoreline. On Sunday night, the system was measured at latitude 12.3°N and longitude 80.6°E — about 90 km south-southeast of Chennai, 90 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 110 km east-northeast of Cuddalore, and 180 km north-northeast of Karaikal. By early Monday, it edged even closer, coming within 50 km of Chennai, 130 km northeast of Puducherry, 150 km northeast of Cuddalore, and 200 km south-southeast of Nellore.
The IMD had earlier issued a red alert for northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and sections of south Andhra Pradesh, prompting authorities to ramp up preparations along the coast. Heavy rainfall pounded Chennai, Tiruvallur, and other districts, while wind-linked sea turbulence damaged boats and caused localised flooding due to sea erosion, especially near Mandapam and Nagapattinam’s Vedaranyam coast.
Precautions and Public Response
Responding to the threat, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) put in place contingency plans to ensure telecom networks stayed resilient throughout the storm’s passage. Meanwhile, residents in Kancheepuram, Ranipet, and nearby districts watched anxiously as weather bloggers predicted more rainfall as Ditwah hovered offshore. The IMD, at one point, had warned that Ditwah could pass as close as 25 km to the Chennai coast.
Through Sunday and into Monday morning, the IMD maintained a yellow alert for several districts, cautioning of light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, and lightning. While Ditwah has now weakened, authorities continue to keep a sharp eye on the region’s weather, especially given the storm’s wide-ranging impact — deadly in Sri Lanka and still disruptive along India’s southeast.
