At least 123 persons died and more than 130 were missing in Sri Lanka due to floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, AFP quoted the country’s Disaster Management Centre as saying on Saturday.
The Sri Lankan government also declared a state of emergency.
The cyclone has since exited the island nation and is moving towards the south Indian coast, the country’s meteorological department said.
In a release issued at 2 pm, the India Meteorological Department said that Cyclone Ditwah was centred over northern parts of Sri Lanka and the adjoining parts of the southwest Bay of Bengal.
At 4.46 pm, the weather agency said on social media that the cyclonic storm over the southwest Bay of Bengal was moving north-northwest and was expected to approach the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry-south Andhra Pradesh coast by early Sunday.
“Residents are advised to follow safety instructions and stay indoors during severe weather,” it added.
The IMD also issued a red alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on Saturday for Chengalpattu, Viluppuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, along with Puducherry and Karaikal in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
It also warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu, south Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry for the next two days, the Hindustan Times reported.
Tamil Nadu Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management KKSSR Ramachandran told ANI that about 6,000 relief camps had been set up all over the state ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Ditwah.
“We have placed as many camps for people to stay in the cyclone-affected areas,” the minister told the news agency. “But people have come in very small numbers.”
Ramachandran added that 28 teams of both the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force had been deployed. “We have asked extra 10 teams,” he told ANI. “They are also coming through the flight now. We have also asked the Coast Guard for help if any disaster happens...”
Amid the adverse weather, 54 flights have been cancelled across several districts in Tamil Nadu, ANI reported, quoting officials at Chennai Airport.
Sixteen flights from Chennai to Thoothukudi, Madurai and Trichy have been cancelled, the news agency reported. Similarly, 16 flights from Thoothukudi, Trichy and Madurai to Chennai were also suspended.
Another 22 flights from Madurai, Trichy and Puducherry to Bengaluru and Hyderabad have also been suspended.
Meanwhile, an Indian Air Force aircraft reached Sri Lanka with 80 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, including four sniffer dogs, along with relief supplies and rescue equipment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of those killed in the cyclone in Sri Lanka.
“Standing with our closest maritime neighbour, India has immediately provided relief, essential humanitarian support, and disaster assistance under the Sagar Bandhu mission,” he said on social media. “As the situation develops, we are prepared to provide further assistance and support.”
Modi added: “In line with the policy of ‘neighbour first’ and the ocean vision, India stands strongly with Sri Lanka at this moment when Sri Lanka needs help.”
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