Rains recede: Relief expedited for flood victims

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The heavy deluge which caused immense damage to man and property, stalling economic and social activities in nine districts seemed to be fading away yesterday, with the Met Department forecasting brighter weather during the forthcoming week.

At least eight people were killed and more than 200,000 affected by torrential rains which caused floods and landslides with Badulla, Ampara and Batticaloa districts affected worst.

While attributing the heavy rains to a condition identified as “Easterly Wave” which accompanied the North East monsoon the weathermen predicted yesterday, that brighter conditions would prevail other than some scattered showers mainly in Central and Uva.

Meanwhile the National Coordinator of the Disaster Management Centre Colonel Keerthi Ekanayake told Daily News that all measures were afoot to assist the affected, with temporary shelters, dry rations, medical help and other facilities been set up in flooded areas.

According to Colonel Ekanayake provincial Disaster Management centres have been advised to assist the affected along with the relevant Government Authorities in the area.

Three deaths were reported from Badulla, two from Moneragala and also three others had died in Gampaha due to lightening.

Around 100,000 people had got affected in the Batticaloa district and 40,000 in Mannar with another 42,000 being reported from Ampara.

According to Colonel Ekanayake seven temporary camps have been set up to provide shelter for the displaced. Also extensive damages to crops has been reported from several areas, with the Maha harvesting being severely affected in North Central and Eastern areas.

According to sources more than 75,000 acres of crops have been destroyed. Also in Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts vegetable cultivations are reported to be adversely affected with losses expected to be over Rs.10 million. Major tanks in the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa too have started overflowing with Rajanganaya, Kalawewa and Nachchaduwa tanks exceeding maximum capacity levels.

The wall of the biggest tank in the Kurunegala district located in Galgamuwa area is reported to have crack and by yesterday officials were engaged in urgent repair work according to Colonel Ekanayake.

Paddy fields on the verge of harvesting is reported to be submerged under a few feet of water with a large proportion of the crop going waste.