Cyclone Ditwah Tragedy: Death Toll Soars Past 1,300 as Humanitarian Crisis Engulfs South Asia

The catastrophic effects of Cyclone Ditwah continue to unfold across Southeast Asia, with the death toll surging past 1,300 across the affected regions, primarily Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The severe tropical storm, which lingered off Sri Lanka’s coast before moving parallel to India, has triggered deadly floods, devastating landslides, and a deepening humanitarian crisis.

The island nation of Sri Lanka has been hit hard, with authorities confirming 465 deaths and an additional 366 people still reported missing following destructive mudslides. Over 1.5 million Sri Lankan citizens have been affected by the floods. The government estimates the nation will require around $7 billion for reconstruction—a devastating economic loss estimated to be between 3% and 5% of the country’s GDP. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has urgently appealed for foreign assistance to finance the massive recovery efforts.

In response, India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu, dispatching critical relief and humanitarian aid. The Indian Air Force deployed C-130 and IL-76 aircraft carrying 21 tonnes of relief material, over 80 NDRF personnel, and a mobile field hospital. NDRF teams have been actively rescuing stranded people, including over 43 individuals near Colombo.

Meanwhile, Indonesia is reeling from a massive loss of life, with 755 fatalities and 650 people reported missing due to devastating floods and landslides. The monsoon rainfall, coupled with the storm systems, also brought heavy casualties to other parts of Southeast Asia, including Thailand (176 deaths) and Malaysia (2 deaths). Aid groups on the ground have cited “very challenging logistical” conditions due to the sheer size and extent of the affected area.

The remnants of Cyclone Ditwah have since weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. However, the system’s movement inland continues to bring torrential rainfall to Tamil Nadu, India. Chennai and neighboring districts like Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu experienced widespread inundation, leading to flooded roads as civic authorities work to pump out water and restore normalcy.