Cyclone Ditwah Devastates Sri Lanka: 334 Dead, Hundreds Missing; India Steps Up Major Rescue Efforts

Sri Lanka continues to grapple with one of its deadliest natural disasters in recent history as Cyclone Ditwah and the resulting floods and landslides have claimed 334 lives, according to the latest update from the country’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) on Sunday evening. The destruction has been widespread, with 370 people still missing and over 11 lakh residents affected since extreme weather conditions began on November 16.

The DMC reported that 11,18,929 individuals from 3,09,607 families have been impacted, as torrential rains submerged neighbourhoods, swept away homes, and triggered landslides across multiple districts.

Sri Lankan authorities have been racing against time to contain the damage. With water levels in the Kelani River rising to dangerous heights due to runoff from central hill regions, Colombo District Secretary Prasanna Ginige issued urgent flood alerts and ordered schools in vulnerable zones to be converted into temporary relief shelters.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared a nationwide state of emergency, underscoring the severity of the unfolding crisis. Rescue teams across the island are working around the clock to trace the missing and relocate affected families.

Amid the worsening humanitarian situation, India has launched a major rescue and relief mission. The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said on social media that Indian teams were “working closely with Sri Lankan authorities… assisting families affected by severe flooding and ensuring immediate safety” during operations in Kochikade, Colombo.

On Sunday, the Indian Air Force (IAF) evacuated more than 300 stranded Indian nationals from Colombo using IL-76 and C-130J aircraft, flying them safely to Thiruvananthapuram. These aircraft had earlier carried essential relief material to Sri Lanka. Once in India, NORKA Roots arranged special buses to help the evacuees reach their hometowns.

According to Defence Ministry officials, MI-17 V medium-lift helicopters from the Southern Air Command and Garud special forces have been deployed on the ground for ongoing rescue operations. The IAF confirmed that relief and evacuation efforts will continue today as more stranded individuals are expected to be brought home.