A devastating cyclone has left a trail of destruction in Sri Lanka, killing at least 56 people and affecting tens of thousands more, as the powerful storm system now sets its course towards southern India.
The intensifying Cyclone Ditwah has been blamed for severe rainfall and catastrophic landslides across the island nation, marking one of its worst weather disasters in recent years.
Widespread Devastation in Sri Lanka
According to Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre, more than 44,000 people have been affected by the extreme weather, with 21 individuals still reported missing. Days of torrential rain led to major slope failures, rivers bursting their banks, and widespread flooding.
The worst-hit areas include the districts of Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Batticaloa, and Polonnaruwa. In many of these regions, homes have been completely buried by landslides, and entire communities have been cut off from essential services and aid.
The central tea-growing region of Badulla suffered the most significant loss of life. A single landslide crashed into homes overnight, claiming at least 21 lives. Disturbing social media footage has emerged, showing houses being swept away by powerful floodwaters as major inter-provincial highways were severed by landslides and inundation.
Storm's Path and Impending Threat to India
Cyclone Ditwah, which formed over the Bay of Bengal, was officially upgraded to a cyclonic storm by the India Meteorological Department on Thursday. As of 5.30am India time on that day, the storm was positioned just off Sri Lanka's eastern coast, moving slowly in a north-northwesterly direction.
The weather system is predicted to skirt along Sri Lanka's coastline before re-emerging over the Bay of Bengal and heading for the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, as well as the union territory of Puducherry, by Sunday.
In response to the approaching danger, Indian authorities have issued severe weather warnings. Parts of Tamil Nadu's delta and northern coastal belt, including Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvarur, have been placed under a red alert. The major metropolitan area of Chennai is under an orange alert, anticipating potential flooding and significant transport disruption.
Fishermen have been urgently warned to remain ashore, and residents in low-lying areas have been instructed to prepare for possible evacuation. While a direct landfall is not currently forecast, the storm is expected to pass close enough to the coast to generate damaging winds, severe flooding, and dangerous sea conditions.
Ongoing Crisis and National Response
Within Sri Lanka, the crisis is far from over. The risk from heavy rainfall was expected to persist into Friday, with several rivers continuing to rise to dangerous levels. The irrigation department issued a red-level flood warning for low-lying areas along the Kelani river basin, which includes sections of the capital, Colombo.
Rainfall measurements have been staggering. The areas of Vavuniya and Mullaitivu recorded more than 300mm of rain within a 24-hour period, with several other locations receiving over 200mm.
The Sri Lankan government has taken drastic measures to manage the emergency. Schools and some public offices in the most severely affected regions have been closed. Nearly 20,500 army personnel have been deployed for large-scale search-and-rescue and relief operations.
The national railway department cancelled all passenger trains from 6am on Friday, with the exception of a handful of essential services, after tracks in multiple districts were found to be either damaged or completely submerged. The disruption has been so severe that students sitting for their A-Level exams have had their tests postponed.
Sri Lanka faces annual monsoon rains, but officials have stressed that disasters on this scale are rare. The country's worst flooding this century occurred in 2003, resulting in 254 fatalities and displacing hundreds of thousands of people.
