Floods and landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra island have killed 417 people, with hundreds still missing. Heavy monsoon rains, made worse by rare tropical storms, have caused severe damage across Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Roads are cut off, power lines are down and rescue teams are struggling to reach people. Thailand has reported 170 deaths, while Malaysia faces major flooding in Perlis state. Sri Lanka has also been hit hard, with nearly 200 deaths from Cyclone Ditwah. Millions across the region are affected as governments race to provide aid and restore essential services. (PC: BBC)

Cyclone Ditwah moved close to the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts on Sunday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. The IMD issued a red alert for several north Tamil Nadu districts and an orange alert for Chennai. The storm is about 80 km from the coast and is moving northward. Many areas in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal saw intense rain. Chennai Airport cancelled 47 flights due to bad weather. NDRF teams are on standby with boats and rescue gear. Sea conditions remained rough, and several districts reported waterlogging. The cyclone may weaken into a deep depression by evening.

Cyclone Ditwah moved closer to the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts on Saturday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. The IMD issued a red alert for several districts, warning of very heavy rain and possible flooding. Chennai and nearby areas faced major travel disruptions, with 54 flights cancelled on Saturday and 47 more scheduled for cancellation on Sunday. Tamil Nadu deployed disaster response teams and set up 6,000 relief camps. The storm is expected to move parallel to the coast and may cause a storm surge of up to one metre. Officials urged people to stay indoors and follow safety advice. (PC: X)

Severe monsoon-fuelled flooding and landslides have killed more than 350 people across Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia’s Sumatra and southern Thailand. In Sumatra, over 100 are still missing as rescue teams face blocked roads and limited access. Thailand’s southern provinces, including Songkhla, experienced up to 3 m of floodwater, overwhelming morgues, and prompting evacuations. Governments have launched cloud-seeding to curb rainfall and are mobilising relief and clean-up efforts amid mounting public criticism. (PC: EPA)

Cyclone Ditwah, which devastated Sri Lanka, is now advancing toward the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast, bringing very heavy rainfall, gale-force winds and rough seas across the region. The system is forecast to run nearly parallel to the coast, making landfall unlikely, but causing major disruption in districts such as Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and the Puducherry–Karaikal region, all placed under red alert. Over 28 disaster-response teams from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been activated, and flights and trains in and out of Chennai have been cancelled or diverted. (PC: PTI)

India has released a new earthquake map, putting the entire Himalayan region in the highest-risk Zone VI for the first time. The update shows 61% of the country is now in moderate to high hazard zones. Scientists say the Indian Plate pushes into the Eurasian Plate, building stress that can trigger major quakes. Long-unruptured faults in the Himalayas store huge energy, increasing risks. The map also reclassifies towns near fault lines, ensuring stricter building rules. Officials say this will guide safer construction, retrofitting, and disaster planning. Experts call it a major step for public safety. (PC: India Today)

Cyclone Ditwah is moving towards the Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coast, prompting a red alert and major preparations. The storm has already caused severe damage in Sri Lanka, where over 153 people have died and many are missing after heavy floods and landslides. India has sent relief supplies and rescue teams to help. The IMD warns of extremely heavy rain in coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh. Disaster response teams are on standby, shelters are ready, and authorities are urging people to stay safe. More rain is expected as the cyclone moves along the Bay of Bengal.

Cyclone Ditwah has caused major damage in Sri Lanka, killing more than 120 people and leaving over 130 missing. The storm brought floods and landslides, forcing the country to declare a state of emergency. It has now moved into the Bay of Bengal and is heading towards the north Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coast. The IMD has issued red and orange alerts in several Tamil Nadu districts and warned of very heavy rain in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Over 6,000 relief camps have been set up. Chennai has cancelled 54 flights, and many schools and colleges are closed across the state. (PC: HT)

A powerful storm that battered Sri Lanka — killing at least 123 and triggering major floods and landslides there — is now moving north-north-west into the Bay of Bengal, heading towards the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and southern Andhra Pradesh. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warns of extremely heavy rainfall (over 20 cm in isolated places) on 29–30 Nov along the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast, and heavy to very heavy rain over south Andhra in the same period. Authorities have issued red and orange alerts across districts, activated disaster-response teams and set up emergency helplines; coastal communities are being encouraged to stay alert and move to safe shelters if needed. 

India Braces for Heavy RainCyclone Ditwah, having caused severe floods and landslides in Sri Lanka that killed over 50 people, is now heading north-northwest toward coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh, with likely landfall by November 30. India has issued red alerts for several delta districts and orange alerts for Chennai and Chennai-adjacent zones anticipating extremely heavy rainfall. In preparation, authorities have deployed NDRF teams, mobilised sniffer-dog units, and activated disaster-response control rooms. Schools in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal are shut, while fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea. Meanwhile, Cyclone Senyar, though weaker, is also contributing to heavy rain warnings across the same regions, compounding flood risk. (PC: India Today)