Flood relief moving smoothly

Rasika Somarathna

Wheels of the administration moved swiftly in providing relief to more than 20,000 people affected due to floods triggered by torrential rains during the last few days.

Authorities in the affected areas were on high alert yesterday with the Met Department predicting more heavy showers throughout the island during the next 24 hours. Disaster relief service sources said yesterday that all measures were in place to help the affected and arrangements have made to provide temporary shelter and dry rations along with other necessities through local authorities.

There was widespread damage by yesterday with the North and East being the worst affected, and according to sources a proper assessment was difficult due to several main roads becoming impassable due to flooding.

In the Ampara district, more than 5,000 people have been affected and in Batticaloa 10,000 have been rendered homeless due to heavy rains and flooding while in the Jaffna peninsula, around 3,000 have sought help with uncleared Mullaitivu too being heavily hit with around 4,000 displaced.

The Dambulla town under several feet of water on Saturday, saw a gradual receding of water levels and according to sources, the district hospital would commence work in about five days. All patients have been transferred to other hospitals in adjoining areas as a temporary measure. The highly active Dambulla economic centre under three feet of water by Saturday, would take a few more days to recover, sources said.

Widespread damage too has been reported from the Polonnaruwa district with several main roads being impassable and a few major tanks overflowing, including the Parakrama Samudraya, Minneriya and Rotawewa tanks in addition to a number of other smaller tanks.

The Polonnaruwa-Bakamuna-Mannampitiya main roads are reported to be under several feet of water making it impassable for travellers and hampering efforts of relief workers.

In the Anuradhapura area, several tanks are at spill level including Kalawewa and Nachchaduwa causing unprecedented damage to cultivations. It is reported that authorities are helping civilians in the adjoining areas of Kalawewa to move out on a temporary basis.

Landslide and floods have also been reported from Ratnapura and Badulla districts.

Government sources said their regional Disaster Management centres were on high alert 24 hours a day, with the help of local authorities and Security Forces, to help the affected. They also added that around 5,500 displaced families from seven districts had sought temporary shelter in camps.

According to the Emergency Operation Centre there has been no deaths or complaints regarding missing people so far. But there seems to be heavy damage to property and cultivation.

Government sources said compensation would be provided to the affected in the near future after making a thorough assessment.