Rains claim four lives, 45,000 displaced
Irangika Range and Dharme Sri Abeyrathne
COLOMBO: The prevailing heavy inter-monsoon rains have caused
four deaths and 45,000 people from 8,000 families have been displaced.
Many areas in several districts were flooded. The four deaths have been
reported from Dankotuwa, Neluwa and Yakkalamulla.
Around 500 houses have been destroyed in Gampaha, Kalutara, Colombo
and Ratnapura districts.
Residents of Gampaha, Wattala, Katana and Ja-Ela areas were seriously
affected by the heavy rain.
Puttalam, Naththandiya, Mahawewa, Dankotuwa, Veyangoda, Galle and
Yakkalamulla have been affected by floods. Public transportation has
come to a standstill and telephone lines and electricity lines have been
seriously damaged.
Landslides have occurred in Deraniyagala due to heavy rain.
Kelani, Kalu, Walawa and Gin rivers are about to overflow. The water
level of Ma-Oya has increased.
The present climate will continue till the end of November, Deputy
Director of the Meteorological Department S. Kariyawasam said.
The public are warned to take precautions against heavy thunder and
lightning activity during this period.
The Government has provided Rs. 4 million relief assistance to those
displaced by the torrential rains which began on October 13.
Rs.20,000 will be given as compensation to reconstruct damaged
houses.
The Government has already handed over funds to Divisional
Secretaries to provide cooked meals and other essential dry rations to
flood victims.
Disaster Relief Service Ministry's National Disaster Management
Centre Director N.D. Hettiarchchi told the Daily News that the
prevailing heavy rains and occasional cyclonic winds were a feature of
the inter-monsoon rains. |