Two rare storms, Cyclone Senyar and Cyclone Ditwah, have caused massive destruction across Southeast Asia. More than 1,000 people have died, and thousands have lost their homes in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and parts of India. Senyar brought record floods and landslides to Indonesia and Thailand, blocking roads and cutting power. Ditwah hit Sri Lanka with heavy rain and flash floods, causing hundreds of deaths and leaving many missing. India’s Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh saw strong rain but limited damage. Rescue teams are struggling to reach remote areas as officials warn that more rain may follow. (PC. HT)

Mumbai has enforced the strictest GRAP-4 pollution control measures after air quality in areas like Mazgaon, Deonar, Malad, Borivali East, Powai, and Mulund reached ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ levels. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has halted construction and dust-generating activities at over 50 sites. Small industries must switch to cleaner processes or face action. Flying squads with engineers, police, and GPS-tracked vehicles are monitoring emissions. Residents report breathing problems and sore throats. Celebrities and local politicians have called for urgent action. The BMC plans a ‘Clean Air Action Plan’ including tree planting, stricter norms, and round-the-clock pollution monitoring. (PC: NDTV)

Cyclone Ditwah weakened into a deep depression on Monday as it moved close to the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. Heavy to very heavy rain hit Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Vellore. Strong winds of up to 70 kmph caused rough seas and local flooding. Three people died in rain-related incidents in Tamil Nadu. Before reaching India’s coast, the storm caused major destruction in Sri Lanka, killing 334 people and leaving nearly 370 missing. Over 20,000 homes were damaged there. India evacuated more than 400 stranded citizens from Colombo and continues to assist Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu. (PC: HT)

Delhi saw slight relief from pollution on Monday as strong northwesterly winds pushed the city’s air quality into the ‘poor’ category after 24 days of ‘very poor’ levels. The overall AQI stood at 300 at 8:05 am, up from 279 on Sunday. Nehru Nagar recorded the worst AQI at 354, while NSIT Dwarka had the best at 202. Experts said steady winds helped clear pollutants across Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana. However, the cold tightened its grip. Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 5.7°C, the lowest of the season and the lowest November reading since 2022. (PC: HT)

Devastating floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains and a tropical storm have killed more than 900 people across Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand. Sri Lanka has recorded 334 deaths, its worst disaster since the 2004 tsunami, with large parts of Colombo submerged and 148,000 people displaced. Indonesia reported over 442 deaths and 402 missing as remote areas of Sumatra remain cut off, forcing survivors to shelter in makeshift tents. Thailand confirmed at least 162 deaths amid rising criticism of its flood response. Rescue efforts are hampered by damaged roads, communication breakdowns and severe weather, raising fears of a further rise in casualties. (PC: Reuters)

The cyclone has weakened into a deep depression about 30 km off the north-coast of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. In Sri Lanka the storm left at least 334 people dead and around 370 missing, destroying nearly 20,000 homes and forcing over 100,000 into shelters. In Tamil Nadu, heavy rains and gusty winds of 60-80 km/h triggered the deaths of three people in rain-related incidents; authorities issued alerts for coastal districts including Chennai, Kanchipuram and Vellore. Emergency teams from disaster relief units are on standby and over 400 stranded Indians were evacuated from Sri Lanka via air. 

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)