What Happened in Kumbakonam as Cyclone Ditwah Strikes?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- A 20-year-old woman tragically lost her life due to a wall collapse in Kumbakonam.
- Cyclone Ditwah is causing heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu.
- Local authorities are assessing structural safety in affected areas.
- A red alert has been issued for vulnerable districts.
- Residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid flooded areas.
Chennai, Nov 30 (NationPress) A tragic incident occurred near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu when a 20-year-old woman lost her life after a wall fell onto her home on Sunday, as Cyclone Ditwah continued to unleash heavy rain across various regions of the state.
The deceased, Renuka, was the daughter of Muthuveil, a local resident of Alamankurichi in the Thanjavur district.
Officials reported that a section of Muthuveil's motor shed wall gave way due to relentless rainfall, subsequently crashing onto the roof of their neighboring house.
Renuka was pronounced dead at the scene. Muthuveil, his spouse Seetha, and their younger daughter Kanimozhi suffered injuries and were transported to a nearby medical facility.
Local authorities have commenced relief operations and are evaluating the structural integrity of buildings in the affected areas.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai announced that Cyclone Ditwah, which formed over the southwestern Bay of Bengal, has begun to weaken and is projected to downgrade into a deep depression by approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The cyclone is not anticipated to make landfall along the Tamil Nadu coastline, the RMC clarified.
As per the latest updates, the cyclone is situated 220 km from Chennai, 130 km from Puducherry, and 120 km from Vedaranyam, advancing at a speed of 7 kmph towards the north-northwest.
Despite the weakening trend, the meteorological office has cautioned that gale-force winds could reach up to 30 km offshore from the northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts by Sunday evening.
Extreme rainfall remains a critical concern for numerous districts. The highest precipitation recorded over the last 24 hours was at Kodiakkarai (250 mm), highlighting the intensity of the system’s rain bands over delta and northern coastal regions.
In light of the weather forecast, a red alert has been issued for the Tiruvallur and Ranipet districts, where very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is anticipated throughout the day.
Additional districts may experience heavy rainfall in isolated areas.
Officials have urged residents in at-risk zones to stay indoors, avoid flooded areas, and adhere to the directives from district authorities.
Disaster response teams are prepared in coastal districts to address any emergencies stemming from severe rainfall or localized flooding. With the cyclone still in proximity to the coast, the RMC has advised continued vigilance until the system dissipates completely over the sea.