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Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates: Widespread rain lashes Tamil Nadu coasts, interior parts as depression moves inland

THE TIMES OF INDIA | Dec 03, 2025, 19:32:17 IST

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates: Widespread rain lashes Tamil Nadu coasts, interior parts as depression moves inland

The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal has shifted southeast toward the East Coast, prompting a red alert for Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur, with extremely heavy rain forecast until Tuesday morning. Schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts will remain closed today as a precaution, following orders issued late Monday by district authorities. Chennai Collector Roshni Siddharth Jagade announced the holiday citing intense rainfall and potential waterlogging. Residents have been advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Tamil Nadu has reported three rain-related deaths linked to Cyclone Ditwah, according to State Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran. Meanwhile, in Andhra Pradesh, the system weakened into a deep depression, resulting in moderate rainfall across most Rayalaseema and south coastal regions, with only isolated heavy showers. On Tuesday, parts of coastal AP and Rayalaseema may continue to experience moderate to heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning and squally winds. Stay with TOI for more updates:

15:56 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates

Braving the adverse weather conditions, priests at the Arunachaleshwar temple in Tiruvannamalai commenced the activities related to the annual Karthigai Deepam festival in the hill shrine and lit the first flame, the Bharani Deepam, early today. Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Minister P K Sekar Babu, officials, and hundreds of devotees had gathered to witness the event.

15:47 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates

Wednesday turned out to be third consecutive wet day this week, though parts of the state have been witnessing rainfall activity since last week, disrupting the livelihood of small traders and hindering the free movement of residents. “The depression (remnant of cyclonic storm Ditwah) over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts moved slowly southwestwards and weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area over north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts and neighbourhood,” the IMD said.

14:22 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates

14:19 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates

Coastal Tamil Nadu and certain interior parts in the state experienced widespread rain on Wednesday as the depression weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area. Nine persons were rescued from their marooned houses in Red Hills a suburb of Chennai by boats by the Fire and Rescue Services department personnel and lodged in relief camps. Anticipating heavy rain, the administration announced a holiday for schools and colleges in several districts for today. Rain pounded Chennai and neighbouring Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram districts triggering sudden inundation in residential areas and arterial roads.

13:16 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates

AIADMK member I S Inbadurai on Wednesday flagged the catastrophic impact of cyclone Ditwah on Tamil Nadu's farmers during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, urging the Centre to immediately dispatch an assessment team as thousands of acres of cropland remains submerged. Cyclone Ditwah and the ensuing monsoon rains have devastated paddy, banana, sugarcane, betel and other crops across the delta region. In Tirunelveli district, paddy cultivation in Tenkashi and Ramanathapuram lies completely underwater, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of farming families. The MP invoked former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami's repeated demands to the state government to dig canals and ponds before the monsoon to prevent such disasters. He said proper survey of crop damage and timely assistance to affected farmers had not been provided.

12:52 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates

As per IMD, the cyclonic storm is likely to continue to move southwestwards slowly across north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and weaken further into a low-pressure area during the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai too experienced heavy frequent spells with brief intervals, as the depression moved inland.

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12:07 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: North Chennai sees highest rain; all 22 subways remain operational

The city recorded an average of 6cm rainfall in the 24 hours ending 5.30am on Wednesday, with northern neighbourhoods receiving the highest spells — Ennore logged 13.5cm, followed by Thiruvottiyur (11.8cm) and Manali (11.4cm). Core city zones saw moderate showers of 4–6cm, while Adyar, Velachery, and pockets of Pallikaranai, Medavakkam and OMR recorded 8–10cm. Corporation officials said there was no major waterlogging anywhere, and all 22 subways remained functional.

11:54 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Compensation process & App-based documentation

The government has announced Rs 20,000 per hectare (about Rs 8,086 per acre) for paddy crops damaged above the 33% mark. Officials have been asked to finish the survey within a week, capturing photographs and uploading all details on the ‘Crop Damage Assessment’ mobile app. In several areas, crops remained submerged for over 10 days even before Ditwah hit, making them impossible to recover.

11:53 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Survey begins in delta districts

Assessment of samba and thaladi crops damaged by Cyclone Ditwah is underway across the delta region. Assistant agricultural officers and village administrative officers have started visiting fields to evaluate crop loss exceeding the 33% threshold, based on which state relief will be provided.

11:21 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Widespread damage across sectors

State disaster management minister K K S S R Ramachandran said that rescue and relief efforts are underway, revealing extensive damage: 582 cattle deaths, 1,601 huts and houses damaged, and crops over 85,500 hectares inundated. A clearer picture will emerge after detailed assessment. The CM has directed district collectors to provide Rs 20,000 per hectare as compensation for crop losses recorded in October.

11:21 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Death toll & heavy rain persist

Cyclone Ditwah’s death toll in Tamil Nadu rose to four on Tuesday, with an electrocution reported in Villupuram. Despite the system weakening into a low-pressure area, heavy rain continued to lash Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpet. The IMD predicted that the downpour would persist through Wednesday morning, leaving large stretches of farmland submerged.

11:19 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Children play on a waterlogged road following heavy rain

10:34 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Heavy rain disrupts life

Coastal Tamil Nadu and parts of the interior faced widespread rain as the depression weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area. Schools and colleges in several districts were closed in anticipation of heavy showers. Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram saw sudden inundation in residential areas and main roads, marking the third consecutive wet day this week. Rainfall activity has been ongoing since last week, affecting small traders and restricting residents’ mobility. Villupuram, Cuddalore, and Tiruvannamalai also experienced frequent heavy spells as the system moved inland.

10:14 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: All schools in Puducherry shut due to heavy rain

In view of heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, Education Minister A. Namachivayam announced that all government, government-aided, and private schools in Puducherry will remain closed on Wednesday (03/12/25) to ensure the safety of students and staff, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for nearby districts in Tamil Nadu, including Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu, predicting heavy rainfall of over 15 mm per hour along with moderate thunderstorms and winds reaching 40-60 kmph.

09:19 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Depression weakens, moves inland near Puducherry

The depression (Remnant of Cyclonic Storm Ditwah) off the Tamil Nadu coast has weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area as it moved inland near Puducherry. It is expected to continue moving southwestwards across north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, weakening further into a low-pressure area over the next 24 hours.

08:57 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Critical roads and inner lanes submerged

Major thoroughfares such as Erukkancheri High Road, Vyasarpadi Industrial Estate, Stephenson Road, Ganeshapuram Main Road, and Perambur High Road, along with dozens of interior lanes, were under ankle- to knee-deep water. Residents complained of being unable to step out of their houses, and the inundation created major disruptions for daily commuters and emergency services.

08:49 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah: Path and intensity from November 26 to December 3

08:48 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Severe waterlogging in residential areas

Several key localities, including Vyasarpadi, Purasawalkam, Otteri, and Perambur, experienced severe waterlogging despite receiving slightly lower rainfall ranging from 13 cm to 15 cm. Residents in these areas waded through ankle- to knee-deep water, with mobility severely affected. In Vyasarpadi’s Mullai Nagar, 13.4 cm of rainfall was recorded, while Perambur received 14.5 cm, turning streets and lanes into virtual waterlogged channels.

08:47 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Record-Breaking Rainfall in North Chennai

North Chennai neighbourhoods were lashed by relentless rain from Monday night through Tuesday forenoon due to Cyclone Ditwah’s lingering effects. Parry’s Corner recorded the highest rainfall at 26.5 cm, closely followed by Ennore at 26.4 cm, Basin Bridge at 20.7 cm, and Manali at 20.6 cm in a 24-hour period ending Tuesday 5:30 am. These readings highlight the severity of the storm’s impact on the northern parts of the city.

08:40 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: A handler in a rain poncho rides his horse along Kamarajar Salai near the Marina Beach

08:04 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates: Moderate rain, thunderstorms hit chennai and nearby districts

IMD has forecast moderate rains with thunderstorms and lightning till 10 am at a few places over Chennai, Thiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Viluppuram, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai districts of Tamilnadu and Puducherry.

07:47 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Holiday for Chennai schools, colleges

Collector Rashmi Siddharth Zagade declared a holiday for schools and colleges in the city on Wednesday owing to Cyclone Ditwah-induced rain. In Tiruvallur, only schools will remain closed. Owing to heavy rain in the past two days, water stagnated on playgrounds in some schools in the city. Meanwhile, the University of Madras postponed semester exams that were scheduled for Wednesday.

07:28 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates: IMD alerts and current impact

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rain in isolated areas of north coastal Tamil Nadu. On Tuesday morning, rain lashed several parts of Chennai and its suburbs, although the intensity of the showers was lower than Monday’s downpour. Authorities are closely monitoring the system to issue timely alerts and ensure public safety.

07:28 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Rainfall forecast across multiple districts

Weather experts have predicted rainfall in Chennai until Wednesday noon, with surrounding districts including Chengalpet, Kancheepuram, Vellore, and Tiruvannamalai also expected to receive rain. Private weather blogger Pradeep John noted that clouds were intensifying over Tiruvallur and North Chennai, indicating that showers could continue in the city and nearby districts as long as the circulation persists.

07:27 (IST) Dec 03

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Cyclone Ditwah weakens but continues to lash Tamil Nadu

Cyclone Ditwah, which weakened into a deep depression on Tuesday, lingered off the Chennai coast, bringing continuous rainfall to the region. The system took a U-turn over the Bay of Bengal and moved southwestwards, making landfall between Kalpakkam and Puducherry by midnight. Meteorologists say it is likely to weaken further into a depression and eventually a well-marked low-pressure area.

15:57 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates: India sends 53 tons of relief material to Sri Lanka

India has sent 53 tons of relief material to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu as part of its emergency response to Cyclone Ditwah, which caused widespread damage across the island nation. At least 334 people have been confirmed dead across Sri Lanka as authorities continue to battle rising floodwaters in parts of the capital, Colombo, after a powerful cyclone left a trail of destruction. In an update on Sunday, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said nearly 400 people remain missing and warned that more heavy rains brought on by Cyclone Ditwah are expected across the island nation in the coming days. According to an official release, "in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu on 28 November 2025 to provide urgent Search & Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) support to Sri Lanka."

15:46 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates: Storm topples trees; banana farmers seek relief

Banana farmers in Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu are reeling under extensive crop damage after strong winds triggered by Cyclone Ditwah flattened nearly 1,500 banana trees across Aaru Paadhi village in Tharangambadi taluk. Farmers say the losses are severe and recurring, urging the state government to step in with immediate compensation. Over the past five years, Mayiladuthurai district has recorded an average banana cultivation area of 511 hectares. This week’s heavy rain and storm winds have left 37.1 hectares inundated, according to officials from the horticulture department. A total of 48 farmers are currently engaged in banana cultivation, many of them dependent on seasonal harvests for their livelihood.

15:42 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates

Overnight rain with strong winds made the tree branches fall in several places in the city, and several parts were heavily inundated. Chennai and its suburbs continued to experience steady rain since morning. Ennore received a maximum of 26 cm of rainfall while Pallikaranai received a minimum of 10.5 cm in the last 24 hours.

15:34 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates

The deep depression (remnant of cyclonic storm Ditwah) over west-central and adjoining areas of southwest Bay of Bengal and North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh coasts remained practically stationary about 35km from the North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts. "It is very likely to recurve slowly southwestwards and weaken into a depression during the next 12 hours," the weather office said.

15:28 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates

Four districts, including Chennai, are likely to receive heavy rain as the deep depression over Bay of Bengal and north Tamil Nadu is expected to recurve towards south Chennai, the weather office said on Tuesday. Heavy spells accompanied by moderate thunderstorms with maximum wind velocity of 40 - 60 kmph are likely in Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts, the IMD said in its latest bulletin.

13:02 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live Updates: Vehicles trapped, walls collapse, locals demand action

A similar pattern of disruption unfolded along the Poonamallee Highway, where flooding on the service road near Velappanchavadi caused a car to get stuck in a hidden ditch and begin sinking. The driver escaped moments before the vehicle submerged, leaving bystanders alarmed at the recurring dangers posed by poor road conditions. Residents in the area said such incidents have become frequent due to the lack of proper drainage and monitoring during heavy rain, urging authorities to post police personnel to manage traffic and prevent accidents.

13:01 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Severe waterlogging cripples key arterial roads

Heavy rain on Tuesday left major stretches in Koyambedu, Nerkundram, and Poonamallee flooded, bringing traffic to a near standstill. In Nerkundram, the road transformed into a large pond-like pool, with stagnant water masking deep potholes formed after days of continuous downpour. Motorists struggled to move through the slushy, uneven surface, leading to repeated skidding and breakdown incidents.

Two-wheelers, cars, and pedestrians were forced to inch forward cautiously, raising concerns over safety on this vital stretch. Residents said that despite repeated complaints, the Greater Chennai Corporation had not deployed motor pumps in time, allowing water to stagnate and increasing the risk of accidents. They demanded an urgent response to prevent further deterioration of the already damaged road.

12:09 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Heavy rain submerges streets, residents trapped indoors

Relentless rain over the past two days left several neighbourhoods in North Chennai severely waterlogged, with parts of Perambur and Vyasarpadi among the worst affected. Residents said daily movement was crippled as water continued to rise in low-lying pockets. The small subway at Mangalapuram, commonly used by the public to travel from Perambur to Otteri, was completely submerged on Monday morning, forcing commuters to turn back. In nearby PP Road, the water level rose to nearly 4 feet, making the stretch inaccessible and trapping residents indoors. With more than 3 feet of stagnation reported across multiple Perambur lanes, movement of vehicles came to a halt and normal life remained disrupted. Authorities are monitoring the situation as rain continues to lash the city.

11:17 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Gusty winds and waterlogging in several parts of Chennai

— ANI (@ANI)

11:03 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Deep depression U-turns towards East Coast; red alert issued for Chennai, neighbouring districts

The deep depression, a remnant of Cyclone Ditwah, over the southwest Bay of Bengal has recurved towards the south and moved southeast, inching closer to the East Coast.

This movement has prompted a red alert for four northern Tamil Nadu districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday warned of extremely heavy rainfall over Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur until 10 am.

10:44 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Casualties and Impact

Three people have died in Tamil Nadu due to rain-related incidents linked to Cyclone Ditwah. In Sri Lanka, flooding from the cyclone has claimed 334 lives, particularly around Colombo, as authorities struggle to manage rising waters.

10:43 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Precautionary Closures

Schools and colleges across Tiruvallur, Chennai, and Kancheepuram are closed today as a safety measure. Chennai District Collector Roshni Siddharth Jagade and counterparts in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram announced the holiday to protect students amid intense rainfall and potential waterlogging.

10:43 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Red alert in Tamil Nadu

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu districts in Tamil Nadu as heavy rains from Cyclone Ditwah are expected. The warning predicts rainfall exceeding 15 mm per hour along with moderate thunderstorms and wind speeds of 40–60 kmph.

10:29 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: East Avenue Road in MKB Nagar, North Chennai, submerged after heavy rainfall

10:15 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: System moves towards Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Andhra Pradesh Coasts

10:02 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Roads submerged over 2 feet

North Chennai has been severely affected by flooding, with water accumulating on many roads to depths of over two feet. This has made commuting extremely difficult, as smaller vehicles such as autorickshaws, two-wheelers, and compact cars are unable to navigate through the submerged streets, causing widespread disruption to daily travel and local traffic.

09:47 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: 43 trees uprooted in Chennai over the last 3 days

09:43 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Ganeshapuram subway closed

09:39 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Chennai records 15.43 cm rain in 24 hours

From 8.30am on December 1 to 8am on December 2, Chennai received an average of 15.43 cm of rainfall. Ennore in the Thiruvottiyur zone recorded the highest at 26.04 cm, while Madipakkam in the Perungudi zone registered the lowest at 3.15 cm.

09:38 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Depression just 25km from TN–Puducherry coast

The centre of the depression is about 25 km from the north Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coasts. It is expected to move slowly southwest towards the coast while maintaining its strength for the next 12 hours, before weakening into a well-marked low-pressure area.

09:30 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: System weakens, drifts south After U-Turn

The deep depression has weakened into a depression and is now moving southward at about 3kmph after making a U-turn.

09:26 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah: Heavy rain floods Chennai as system lingers 30–40 km off coast

A locomotive stood on flooded tracks at Egmore station on Monday as cyclone-induced rain lashed Chennai. Though Ditwah weakened into a deep depression while moving north in the Bay of Bengal, it triggered cloud formation that brought heavy showers across the city and suburbs. Between 8.30am and 7.30pm, Nungambakkam recorded 9.45cm of rain, Meenambakkam 6.2cm, and Ennore 13cm. Weathermen said the system will linger 30–40km off the coast, with heavy rain likely on Tuesday in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpet.

09:10 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Chennai, suburbs wake to season’s wettest morning; schools, colleges closed

Cyclone Ditwah, which weakened into a deep depression over Bay of Bengal on a breezy Sunday evening, surprised residents on Monday by unleashing one of the wettest mornings of the season. The cyclone, stripped of much of its cloud cover on Sunday, moved northward through the Bay of Bengal. It staged a resurgence overnight, amassing moisture. Drifting slowly northward at 5km/h and edging closer to the coast, the weather system thickened cloud cover over city and suburbs, setting off steady prolonged showers from 5am. It dumped torrents over some parts of north Chennai and neighbouring districts Low-lying areas were flooded, children walked to school drenched, and traffic came to a crawl in most parts of the city. Around 10am, when most people were dodging potholes in traffic bottlenecks, India Meteorological Department reinstated an orange (very heavy rain) alert for the city and a red (extremely heavy rain) alert for Tiruvallur.

08:58 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah News: Squally winds and thunderstorms forecast in Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema

Isolated areas across coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema districts continued to experience moderate to heavy rainfall on Tuesday, December 2. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning were also likely in select locations across these regions. Authorities warned of squally winds in some parts of coastal AP and Rayalaseema due to the lingering effects of the remnants of Cyclone Ditwah.

08:13 (IST) Dec 02

Cyclone Ditwah Live: Cyclone Ditwah weakens into deep depression; moderate rain lashes most parts of Andhra Pradesh

Even as the weather agency and AP govt braced for the wrath of Cyclone Ditwah in parts of the Rayalaseema and south coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, the cyclonic storm weakened into a deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal. Though the cyclone was expected to lash heavy rains in many parts of the state, many locations experienced moderate rainfall while only one location experienced heavy rainfall. suggest header

6 More Updates

A deep depression in the Bay of Bengal has recurved southward and moved closer to the East Coast, prompting a red alert for Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur, with extremely heavy rain predicted until 10 am on Tuesday.

In view of the forecast, district authorities in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram announced a holiday for all schools and colleges on December 2 as a precaution.

Chennai District Collector Roshni Siddharth Jagade said the decision was taken to ensure student safety amid expectations of intense rainfall and waterlogging. Residents have been urged to stay cautious and avoid non-essential travel.

Tamil Nadu has reported three rain-related deaths linked to Cyclone Ditwah, according to state disaster management minister KKSSR Ramachandran. While the system earlier threatened Andhra Pradesh’s Rayalaseema and south coastal districts, it weakened into a deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal. Many areas recorded only moderate rainfall, with isolated pockets experiencing heavy showers.

On Tuesday, isolated areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema are likely to face moderate to heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and squally winds due to the cyclone’s remnants.

Meteorologists say Ditwah is currently unable to move either west or east; if the westerly trough shifts away on Wednesday, the weakened system may finally drift westward toward the Tamil Nadu or south Andhra Pradesh coast.

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