Heavy rain caused by Cyclone Ditwah submerged nearly 90,000 hectares of farmland across the delta districts over the weekend. Initial estimates show standing paddy crop in low-lying areas have been damaged in Mayiladuthurai (22,151 ha), Karaikal (4,500 ha), Nagapattinam (33,043 ha), Tiruvarur (19,620 ha), Thanjavur (about 6,070 ha), and Pudukkottai (about 4,047 ha) districts, taking the total affected area to around 89,431 ha.
Mayiladuthurai district recorded very heavy rainfall in the 24 hours ending 6.30 a.m. on Saturday, with a total of 70.76 cm and an average of 11.79 cm across six rain gauge stations. Sembanarkoil in Tharangambadi taluk received 17.24 cm, followed by Mayiladuthurai town (14.32 cm), Sirkazhi (13.78 cm), Manalmedu (9.40 cm), Kollidam (9.32 cm), and Tharangambadi (6.70 cm).
Apart from extensive paddy farm inundation, several low-lying coastal habitations along the Tharangambadi–Sirkazhi stretch experienced severe water stagnation, affecting daily life, officials said. R. Prathap, 19, of Sembadaniruppu North Street, was electrocuted on Saturday. The police said an overhead line near Kaliamman temple had snapped and Prathap came into contact with it while riding on his two-wheeler around 10.30 p.m. A case has been registered by the Pagasalai police.
Nagapattinam district recorded a total of 85.72 cm of rain across seven stations (average 12.24 cm) in the 24-hour period ending 8.30 a.m. on Saturday. Nagapattinam town logged 15.45 cm, followed by Thirupoondi (13.07 cm) and Velankanni (11.74 cm). While no human fatalities were reported, one child sustained injuries. Officials said 16 huts and three pucca houses suffered partial damage. Livestock loss included two buffaloes, two sheep, and three goats.
Thanjavur district, lashed by heavy rain for the second consecutive day on Sunday, saw extensive waterlogging in low-lying neighbourhoods and submergence of nearly 15,000 acres of Samba and Thaladi paddy. Residential areas such as Sivagami Nagar, Sundarameena Nagar, and localities near Mariyamman Koil reported water entering homes in the absence of effective storm-water drains, affecting around 200 households, residents said.
Late on Saturday, Renuga, 20, died and three members of her family were injured when a wall of their dilapidated house collapsed at Alamankurichi Udaiyar Street near Kumbakonam. Revenue officials and the Kumbakonam taluk police are investigating.
In Orathanadu and surrounding villages, including Neyvasal, Kulamangalam, and Paruthikottai, rainwater flooded transplanted paddy fields, which farmers blamed on uncleared drainage channels. The administration said 11 houses were damaged in the district. The thatched house of a resident, Sukumar, collapsed in Kulamangalam, while compound walls of two other houses in Ooranipuram and MGR Nagar near Thanjavur fell.
Major livestock loss was reported near Kakarai Kottai in Orathanadu, where 50 sheep housed in a grove at Pinnaiyur died in Saturday night’s downpour. Yesu, a livestock farmer, had sheltered around 300 sheep and 25 cattle at the site, officials said. As of 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, Kurungulam recorded the district’s highest rainfall with 124 mm, followed by Eekanviduthi (112 mm), Neyvasal (109 mm), Orathanadu (104 mm), Ayyampettai (93 mm), Peravurani (92 mm), Vettikkadu (90 mm), and Pattukkottai (88 mm); the district average stood at 82.18 mm.
Tiruvarur district reported light to moderate rain of 27.9 mm between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday, with an average of 3.1 mm. Tiruvarur town received 6 mm, followed by Muthupettai (4 mm), Thiruthuraipoondi (3.8 mm), Mannargudi (3.5 mm), and Nannilam (4.4 mm). Officials said the cyclone’s rainbands continued to bring intermittent showers.
Published – November 30, 2025 11:22 pm IST
