Chennai, Nov. 29 -- The India Meteorological Department on Saturday issued a red alert in parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as Cyclone Ditwah approaches closer to the coastal areas.

IMD warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy rain at isolated spots, likely over Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Villuppuram, Chengalpattu districts, and the Puducherry-Karaikal region.

Strong winds and rainfall have already hit the coastal areas of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.

In the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, excess water from the city and suburban areas flowed toward the Port Trust coastal zone and mixed with the sea due to heavy rainfall.

The sea there has been experiencing unusual turbulence. Marine algae and simil...