India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to visit Sri Lanka next week, a trip coming at a time when Delhi immediately reached out to its neighbour amid ongoing recovery from one of the country's worst natural disasters in decades. The visit follows India's swift and extensive humanitarian response to Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka on 27 November 2025, triggering catastrophic floods and landslides that have claimed over 500 lives and affected millions.&nbsp;India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu immediately after the cyclone made landfall, becoming the first nation to deploy specialised disaster responders. Within hours, Indian naval ships already in Colombo for a fleet review, including aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, handed over initial relief supplies.&nbsp;Over the ensuing days, India airlifted tonnes of essentials via Indian Air Force aircraft, including tents, blankets, hygiene kits, medicines and modular trauma units known as BHISHM Cubes. Elite National Disaster Response Force teams, equipped with search dogs, were deployed to hard-hit areas like Badulla and Gampaha, rescuing over 450 people from flooded homes and landslide debris.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-becomes-first-person-to-cross-700-billion-in-net-worth-closing-in-on-trillionaire-status-1766254036675">Elon Musk becomes first person to cross $700 billion in net worth, closing in on trillionaire status</a>&nbsp;Helicopters from INS Vikrant and IAF Mi-17s conducted sustained air rescues, evacuating vulnerable groups and delivering aid to isolated regions. An Indian Army field hospital in Badulla district treated thousands, while engineers airlifted Bailey bridges to restore severed road links. Naval vessels later ferried hundreds of tonnes of dry rations, including contributions from Tamil Nadu, to ports in Colombo and Trincomalee.&nbsp;Sri Lankan authorities have praised the operation's speed and coordination, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake describing the cyclone as the most challenging disaster in recent history. EAM Jaishankar's upcoming India visit is expected to focus on continued reconstruction support, reflecting India's "Neighbourhood First" policy and shared maritime interests. &nbsp;

India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu immediately after the cyclone made landfall, becoming the first nation to deploy specialised disaster responders.

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to visit Sri Lanka next week, a trip coming at a time when Delhi immediately reached out to its neighbour amid ongoing recovery from one of the country's worst natural disasters in decades. The visit follows India's swift and extensive humanitarian response to Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka on 27 November 2025, triggering catastrophic floods and landslides that have claimed over 500 lives and affected millions. India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu immediately after the cyclone made landfall, becoming the first nation to deploy specialised disaster responders. Within hours, Indian naval ships already in Colombo for a fleet review, including aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, handed over initial relief supplies. Over the ensuing days, India airlifted tonnes of essentials via Indian Air Force aircraft, including tents, blankets, hygiene kits, medicines and modular trauma units known as BHISHM Cubes. Elite National Disaster Response Force teams, equipped with search dogs, were deployed to hard-hit areas like Badulla and Gampaha, rescuing over 450 people from flooded homes and landslide debris. Also Read: Elon Musk becomes first person to cross $700 billion in net worth, closing in on trillionaire status Helicopters from INS Vikrant and IAF Mi-17s conducted sustained air rescues, evacuating vulnerable groups and delivering aid to isolated regions. An Indian Army field hospital in Badulla district treated thousands, while engineers airlifted Bailey bridges to restore severed road links. Naval vessels later ferried hundreds of tonnes of dry rations, including contributions from Tamil Nadu, to ports in Colombo and Trincomalee. Sri Lankan authorities have praised the operation's speed and coordination, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake describing the cyclone as the most challenging disaster in recent history. EAM Jaishankar's upcoming India visit is expected to focus on continued reconstruction support, reflecting India's "Neighbourhood First" policy and shared maritime interests.

India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu immediately after the cyclone made landfall, becoming the first nation to deploy specialised disaster responders.

India's Foreign Minister Jaishankar to visit Sri Lanka amid ongoing recovery from deadly Cyclone Ditwah

India's relief operations are in full swing as Sri Lanka reels under devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The Indian Army on Sunday (Dec 07) shared information about emergency operations carried out by its troops and medical teams. The Army field hospital has treated over 1250 people and undertaken major emergency surgeries. Indian troops also inducted three Bailey Bridges to speed up the relief work and restore critical connectivity in affected areas.&nbsp;In a post on X, ADGPI updated on Operation Sagar Bandhu: "Update on Indian Army's Humanitarian Assistance to Sri Lanka- The Indian Army's Field Hospital has treated over 1,250 people so far, including five major emergency surgeries; three Bailey Bridges have been inducted into Sri Lanka. In coordination with the Sri Lankan administration, suitable locations have been identified for their construction to accelerate relief efforts and support restoration of critical connectivity."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/disruption-at-heathrow-airport-after-multiple-people-assaulted-with-pepper-spray-1765104432195">Disruption at Heathrow airport after multiple people assaulted with pepper spray</a>&nbsp;Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, visited the field hospital and thanked India for the swift response and its effort in ensuring critical medical care for the affected communities. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep concern over the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah and said that India stands firmly with the people of Sri Lanka. These operations are part of India's sustained humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka through coordinated rescue, medical, and relief efforts under Operation Sagar Bandhu.<h2>Death toll soars to 627</h2>The death toll following the large-scale destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah has soared to 627, with several hundred people still missing, Daily Mirror reported on Sunday, citing the country's Disaster Management Centre (DMC).&nbsp;Cyclone Ditwah has resulted in relentless rain, flash floods and landslides across the island, causing river levels to rise to historic highs, submerging entire towns and causing loss in critical infrastructure. &nbsp;

The death toll following the large-scale destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah has soared to 627.

India's relief operations are in full swing as Sri Lanka reels under devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The Indian Army on Sunday (Dec 07) shared information about emergency operations carried out by its troops and medical teams. The Army field hospital has treated over 1250 people and undertaken major emergency surgeries. Indian troops also inducted three Bailey Bridges to speed up the relief work and restore critical connectivity in affected areas. In a post on X, ADGPI updated on Operation Sagar Bandhu: "Update on Indian Army's Humanitarian Assistance to Sri Lanka- The Indian Army's Field Hospital has treated over 1,250 people so far, including five major emergency surgeries; three Bailey Bridges have been inducted into Sri Lanka. In coordination with the Sri Lankan administration, suitable locations have been identified for their construction to accelerate relief efforts and support restoration of critical connectivity." Also Read: Disruption at Heathrow airport after multiple people assaulted with pepper spray Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, visited the field hospital and thanked India for the swift response and its effort in ensuring critical medical care for the affected communities. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep concern over the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah and said that India stands firmly with the people of Sri Lanka. These operations are part of India's sustained humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka through coordinated rescue, medical, and relief efforts under Operation Sagar Bandhu. Death toll soars to 627 The death toll following the large-scale destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah has soared to 627, with several hundred people still missing, Daily Mirror reported on Sunday, citing the country's Disaster Management Centre (DMC). Cyclone Ditwah has resulted in relentless rain, flash floods and landslides across the island, causing river levels to rise to historic highs, submerging entire towns and causing loss in critical infrastructure.

The death toll following the large-scale destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah has soared to 627.

Op Sagar Bandhu: Indian Army’s field hospital treats over 1,250 people in Sri Lanka as death toll rises to 627

Cyclone Ditwah, which was supposed to bring intense rainfall to Tamil Nadu until Sunday, (30th Nov), has defied all predictions. While there were negligible rains in Chennai city and adjoining until Sunday, the system's remnants have brought significant amounts of rainfall to Chennai and adjoining regions between Monday and Thursday, (Dec 4). Notably, there was no advance warning or forecasts about the extremely heavy rainfall(over 21cms) that the system's remnants would cause in the ongoing week.&nbsp;Despite the weather system(remnants of Ditwah) having significantly weakened through the course of this week, IMD has now forecast heavy rainfall for multiple districts of the state on both Thursday and Friday. "Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Nilgiris, Ghat areas of Coimbatore, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts and Puducherry," said the IMD forecast issued for the day&nbsp;at noon, Thursday. For Friday, IMD has forecast heavy rain for isolated places over Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts.&nbsp;&nbsp;As per IMD rainfall data shared on Thursday, many parts of Tamil Nadu have witnessed rainfall amounting to 6-24cms. Parts of Chennai city have recorded between 12-24cms of rainfall. This is despite the remnants of Cyclone Ditwah having weakened and moved away from the Chennai coast.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cyclone Ditwah is being widely regarded as a weather system that has proven most weather forecasts wrong. Neither the Indian Metrological Department(IMD), not the private weather bloggers were able to forecast that the cyclone and its remnants would impact several parts of Tamil Nadu between 1st&nbsp;and 5th&nbsp;December. Initial forecasts had suggested that the system's impact would be virtually over by November 30th. The well marked low pressure area over North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast moved westwards and weakened into a low pressure area over North Tamil Nadu on Wednesday evening, following which it became less marked in the early morning hours of &nbsp;Thursday, IMD said in its latest report about the remnants of Cyclone Ditwah.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The well marked low pressure area over North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast moved westwards and weakened into a low pressure area over North Tamil Nadu on Wednesday evening

Cyclone Ditwah, which was supposed to bring intense rainfall to Tamil Nadu until Sunday, (30th Nov), has defied all predictions. While there were negligible rains in Chennai city and adjoining until Sunday, the system's remnants have brought significant amounts of rainfall to Chennai and adjoining regions between Monday and Thursday, (Dec 4). Notably, there was no advance warning or forecasts about the extremely heavy rainfall(over 21cms) that the system's remnants would cause in the ongoing week. Despite the weather system(remnants of Ditwah) having significantly weakened through the course of this week, IMD has now forecast heavy rainfall for multiple districts of the state on both Thursday and Friday. "Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Nilgiris, Ghat areas of Coimbatore, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts and Puducherry," said the IMD forecast issued for the day at noon, Thursday. For Friday, IMD has forecast heavy rain for isolated places over Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts. As per IMD rainfall data shared on Thursday, many parts of Tamil Nadu have witnessed rainfall amounting to 6-24cms. Parts of Chennai city have recorded between 12-24cms of rainfall. This is despite the remnants of Cyclone Ditwah having weakened and moved away from the Chennai coast. Cyclone Ditwah is being widely regarded as a weather system that has proven most weather forecasts wrong. Neither the Indian Metrological Department(IMD), not the private weather bloggers were able to forecast that the cyclone and its remnants would impact several parts of Tamil Nadu between 1st and 5th December. Initial forecasts had suggested that the system's impact would be virtually over by November 30th. The well marked low pressure area over North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast moved westwards and weakened into a low pressure area over North Tamil Nadu on Wednesday evening, following which it became less marked in the early morning hours of Thursday, IMD said in its latest report about the remnants of Cyclone Ditwah.

The well marked low pressure area over North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast moved westwards and weakened into a low pressure area over North Tamil Nadu on Wednesday evening

Heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu despite Cyclone Ditwah fading away

Schools and colleges across Chennai and Tiruvallur will stay closed today (Tuesday, Dec 2) because of the forecast of heavy rains from Cyclone Ditwah. The decision was taken late on Monday as a precautionary measure, as authorities prepare for dangerous weather conditions. In a statement, Chennai District Collector Roshni Siddharth Jagade said that the shutdown will cover all educational institutions in the district on December 2 because of weather alerts. The District Collectors of Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram have given identical orders.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/asia-s-monsoon-apocalypse-over-900-dead-hundreds-missing-across-sri-lanka-indonesia-and-thailand-cyclone-ditwah-1764562242548">Asia’s monsoon apocalypse: Over 900 dead, hundreds missing across Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand</a><h2>Why are schools and colleges shut?</h2>Heavy downpours are expected throughout the day, making travel risky. Officials say that the holiday has been announced to ensure safety amid intense rainfall and water logging predictions.Officials have advised residents to keep their eyes open, avoid travel unless necessary, and watch for updates from the state government and disaster response teams.Tamil Nadu has already reported three deaths in rain-related incidents tied to the cyclone, Disaster Management Minister K K S S R Ramachandran said on Sunday.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/war-is-good-business-global-arms-sales-hit-record-679bn-in-2024-us-russia-among-those-who-profited-the-most-1764574260261">War is good business? Global arms sales hit record $679bn in 2024; US and Russia among the biggest gainers</a><h2>Sri Lanka death toll rises to 334</h2>Sri Lanka has been hit far harder. The country has confirmed 334 deaths as floodwaters continue to rise in and around Colombo after Cyclone Ditwah tore through the island.India on Monday sent 53 tons of relief supplies to Sri Lanka on Monday under Operation Sagar Bandhu. Rescue teams have been active on both sides of the strait. Chetak helicopters from INS Vikrant and MI-17s from the Indian Air Force, working with the Sri Lankan Air Force, have been airlifting stranded people, including pregnant women, infants, and those in critical condition. The rescued include citizens of Sri Lanka, India, Germany, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Poland, Belarus, Iran, Australia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28 to support Sri Lanka with urgent search and rescue efforts and humanitarian aid after the cyclone's impact.&nbsp;

Chennai and Tiruvallur have shut schools and colleges today as heavy rain from Cyclone Ditwah is set to hit. Three deaths have been reported in Tamil Nadu, while Sri Lanka faces a far bigger disaster with 334 dead.

Schools and colleges across Chennai and Tiruvallur will stay closed today (Tuesday, Dec 2) because of the forecast of heavy rains from Cyclone Ditwah. The decision was taken late on Monday as a precautionary measure, as authorities prepare for dangerous weather conditions. In a statement, Chennai District Collector Roshni Siddharth Jagade said that the shutdown will cover all educational institutions in the district on December 2 because of weather alerts. The District Collectors of Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram have given identical orders. Also read | Asia’s monsoon apocalypse: Over 900 dead, hundreds missing across Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand Why are schools and colleges shut? Heavy downpours are expected throughout the day, making travel risky. Officials say that the holiday has been announced to ensure safety amid intense rainfall and water logging predictions. Officials have advised residents to keep their eyes open, avoid travel unless necessary, and watch for updates from the state government and disaster response teams. Tamil Nadu has already reported three deaths in rain-related incidents tied to the cyclone, Disaster Management Minister K K S S R Ramachandran said on Sunday. Also read | War is good business? Global arms sales hit record $679bn in 2024; US and Russia among the biggest gainers Sri Lanka death toll rises to 334 Sri Lanka has been hit far harder. The country has confirmed 334 deaths as floodwaters continue to rise in and around Colombo after Cyclone Ditwah tore through the island. India on Monday sent 53 tons of relief supplies to Sri Lanka on Monday under Operation Sagar Bandhu. Rescue teams have been active on both sides of the strait. Chetak helicopters from INS Vikrant and MI-17s from the Indian Air Force, working with the Sri Lankan Air Force, have been airlifting stranded people, including pregnant women, infants, and those in critical condition. The rescued include citizens of Sri Lanka, India, Germany, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Poland, Belarus, Iran, Australia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28 to support Sri Lanka with urgent search and rescue efforts and humanitarian aid after the cyclone's impact.

Chennai and Tiruvallur have shut schools and colleges today as heavy rain from Cyclone Ditwah is set to hit. Three deaths have been reported in Tamil Nadu, while Sri Lanka faces a far bigger disaster with 334 dead.

Cyclone Ditwah: Chennai, Tiruvallur shut schools and colleges as deadly storm kills hundreds in Sri Lanka

cyclone-ditwah-update

Cyclone Ditwah Update, News on Cyclone Ditwah Update, stories on Cyclone Ditwah Update, articles on Cyclone Ditwah Update, Cyclone Ditwah Update stories at Wion, Cyclone Ditwah Update news, Cyclone Ditwah Update latest news

cyclone ditwah-update

India's Foreign Minister Jaishankar to visit Sri Lanka amid ongoing recovery from deadly Cyclone Ditwah

Indian Army’s field hospital treats over 1,250 people in Sri Lanka

Heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu despite Cyclone Ditwah fading away

Chennai, Tiruvallur shut schools and colleges due to Cyclone Ditwah