For two days now, small vendors, auto drivers, fishermen, construction workers, and housekeeping staff have claimed not to have earned a single rupee in puducherry because of cyclone Ditwah. Many say they are worried more about hunger than the storm. (Image Source: X.com/ANI)
Cyclone Ditwah moves closer to the Indian coastline, life in Puducherry has come to an unexpected halt. With heavy winds, rising waves, and warnings of flooding, the government has declared a red alert across the region. While everyone is affected in some way, daily wage workers are suffering the most, as work has completely stopped.
For two days now, small vendors, auto drivers, fishermen, construction workers, and housekeeping staff have claimed not to have earned a single rupee. Many say they are worried more about hunger than the storm.
The IMD has stated that extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected with Cyclone Ditwah. People have been advised to remain indoors, avoid beaches, and follow safety instructions. Disaster response teams have been deployed across coastal areas. Barricades have been placed near sea-facing roads, and patrol teams stop people from going near the water's edge.
All schools and colleges in Puducherry and the surrounding districts of Tamil Nadu have been ordered to remain closed. Parents say children are safe, but many families worry about food and water shortages if the storm stays longer. Some private tuition centres too have shut down, shifting to phone-based instructions temporarily.
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The government has opened temporary shelters for residents of low-lying areas, but many of those buildings are already crowded. Several families said there were not enough beds or clean toilets. Some women have complained about lack of privacy and separate spaces. Pregnant women and elderly people struggle to adjust in the packed shelters.
This is a major blow to Puducherry’s tourism. Promenade Beach, Auroville Beach, and Paradise Beach have all been closed. Large cancellations were reported at hotels. Even local shopkeepers, dependent on tourists, said that this was their worst week of the season.
The rising water level and snapping of electric lines have disrupted power supply in many neighbourhoods. Supply of drinking water is also disrupted in many areas. Officials say restoration work will begin only after Cyclone Ditwah passes safely. For now, Puducherry remains on high alert, hoping the storm weakens before making landfall. But for thousands of daily wage workers, it has already begun to take its toll, and recovery may be a long process, much beyond the cyclone itself.
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