Cyclone Ditwah floods Tamil Nadu, leaving three dead and thousands displaced
Heavy rains from Cyclone Ditwah have battered Tamil Nadu, causing widespread flooding and destruction. Three deaths have been reported so far, with thousands displaced and farmland submerged across the state.
The delta districts of Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, and Mayiladuthurai have suffered the worst flooding, with 56,000 hectares of paddy fields underwater. In separate incidents, two people died when walls collapsed in Thoothukudi and Thanjavur, while a 20-year-old was electrocuted in Mayiladuthurai.
The state has responded by deploying 48 teams from the SDRF and NDRF to assist with rescue and relief efforts. Meanwhile, 38 relief camps have been opened in high-risk districts, currently housing 2,393 displaced residents.
Beyond human casualties, the storms have killed 149 cattle and damaged 234 homes and huts. As the weather begins to clear, stranded Tamil Nadu residents in Sri Lanka are expected to return to Chennai later today.
Authorities will assess crop and property damage once floodwaters recede. The Chief Minister will then determine compensation for affected farmers.
The cyclone’s impact has left thousands in relief shelters and caused significant agricultural losses. With rescue operations ongoing, the state will soon shift focus to damage evaluation and recovery measures.
