Cyclone Ditwah kills 56 in Sri Lanka as floods worsen; India sends helicopters for rescue

Sri Lanka is battling one of its worst weather disasters in years as Cyclone Ditwah triggered incessant rainfall, severe flooding and landslips across the island. As of Friday morning, at least 56 people have died and dozens remain missing, with 20 out of the country’s 25 districts heavily impacted. More than 12,000 families and 43,000 people have been directly affected, prompting authorities to issue an island-wide red alert.

The disaster has hit the eastern and central regions the hardest, including Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, and Badulla. Several areas remain submerged, major roads are inaccessible, and landslips have blocked highways. Harrowing accounts of families stranded overnight, vehicles swept into waterways, and residents climbing onto rooftops highlight the scale of the crisis. Schools have been closed and government offices, except essential services, were given a holiday.

India has responded to a request from Sri Lanka by deploying helicopters from INS Vikrant, currently docked in Colombo, to support rescue and relief operations. As overflowing rivers and rising reservoir levels increase the threat of further flooding, aviation authorities have also reported disruptions in several flight schedules.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened an emergency meeting and urged MPs to assist with relief work at the district level. The government has announced a compensation of LKR 1 million to families of the deceased and directed tourism authorities to ensure essential services for stranded foreign tourists.