Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Saturday declared a state of emergency following Cyclone Ditwah, which has killed at least 120 people and left about 130 missing. The declaration, published in the official gazette, followed an all-party meeting in which Opposition leaders urged emergency powers; the doctors’ trade union had made a similar request in a letter to the government.
Authorities say the emergency will speed up rescue operations and the distribution of aid. The cyclone has caused widespread destruction—houses damaged or destroyed, landslides and floods, large-scale displacement, and areas rendered inaccessible. More than 43,000 people have been affected, most moved to welfare centres.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the cyclone is moving north-northwest and is expected to make landfall near southeast India by Sunday. The IMD forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at many places, with isolated extremely heavy falls (over 200mm) in Tamil Nadu and eastern Andhra Pradesh, and heavy rain also expected in parts of Kerala and Telangana.
India has dispatched assistance under “Operation Sagar Bandhu.” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced that two Chetak helicopters from INS Vikrant have been sent for rescue operations in Sri Lanka, carrying a mix of Indian and Sri Lankan air force personnel. Earlier, Indian Air Force planes delivered around 12 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Colombo, including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits and ready-to-eat food.
