The Disaster Management Centre has confirmed the widespread impact on communities nationwide. The Kandy District has been the hardest hit, with 51 fatalities and 67 individuals still missing. Badulla District has reported 35 deaths and 27 missing persons. Other severely affected districts include Kegalle (9 deaths), Matale (8 deaths), Nuwara Eliya (6 deaths), and Ampara (5 deaths).

In total, Cyclone Ditwah has impacted 373,428 people from 102,877 families, with widespread damage from floods, landslides, and high winds. A dramatic rescue operation saw nearly 40 people, including a foreign national, saved from a bus overcome by floodwaters on the Kala Oya Bridge. They had sought refuge on a nearby rooftop.

India has extended crucial support through ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu.’ An Indian Air Force aircraft delivered 80 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, including specialized search dogs, along with vital relief supplies. Naval assets, including the INS Vikrant and INS Udaigiri, have also been involved in delivering aid. The Indian High Commission in Colombo has established an emergency help desk for Indian citizens affected by the cyclone.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, anticipating the cyclone’s landfall. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is forecast for several districts, including Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and Villupuram, on Saturday and Sunday. Preparedness measures are intensifying in India, with NDRF teams strategically deployed in vulnerable coastal districts. Continuous monitoring and coordination with various agencies are underway to manage the situation effectively.

As of Monday morning, Kalmaegi was traversing Sagay city in Negros Occidental province, packing sustained winds of 150 kph and gusts reaching 185 kph. The typhoon initially struck land around midnight in Silago town, Southern Leyte. This marks the 20th tropical cyclone to impact the Philippines this year.

Initial reports indicate an elderly villager drowned in floodwaters in Southern Leyte, which also experienced a complete power outage. The typhoon is expected to move northwestward and exit into the South China Sea by Tuesday. Authorities are particularly concerned for central island provinces like Cebu, which is still grappling with the aftermath of a recent earthquake.

Disaster management agencies are on standby, with emergency teams mobilized to manage potential impacts. Residents in low-lying and coastal areas are being advised to take necessary precautions and adhere to safety guidelines issued by local authorities. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is closely monitoring the storm’s trajectory and intensity.

The IMD anticipates that by Sunday, October 27, Cyclone Montha will intensify further. This is expected to trigger widespread rainfall across the coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema regions, with the effects likely to persist until October 29. As of Saturday, the storm’s center was situated approximately 950 km east-southeast of Chennai, 960 km southeast of Visakhapatnam, and 970 km southeast of Kakinada.

Weather experts have warned of squally conditions developing along coastal areas from October 26, with wind speeds gradually increasing as the cyclone draws closer to the landmass. The situation is being actively managed to ensure public safety.