Cyclone Devastates Dhanushkodi and Surrounding Areas

Summary:
The ferries between Dhanushkodi, India, and Talaimannar, Sri Lanka, were delayed, and later that evening, Palani, a local resident, returned home after his day’s work. Four days prior, the Indian Meteorological Department had warned of a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal. On the night of December 22, severe weather hit, with gale winds, violent storms, and huge waves predicted for northern Sri Lanka.
As the cyclone intensified unexpectedly, it turned west-northwest, hitting Dhanushkodi with winds up to 280 km/hr (175 mph). Heavy rain began around 11 pm, and the train from Rameshwaram to Dhanushkodi attempted its journey but lost communication with the stations as the storm worsened.
Palani woke to find his home flooded, and his family swept away by rising waters. Despite his efforts to swim to safety, he and his home were engulfed by the waves. The cyclone caused widespread devastation, and the train never reached its destination, presumed to have returned but ultimately lost in the storm.