Floods take heavy toll

Mohammed Naalir

Floods took a heavy toll in several districts with several deaths reported and nearly 8,000 families displaced while cutting off access roads in many areas due to heavy flooding and obstructions by landslides.

7,860 families (33,408 persons) were reported displaced in Colombo, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Puttalam, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle, Gampaha and Kegalle.

Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Rishard Badiudeen has directed the District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries of the relevant districts to carry out immediate relief work.

According to the information of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry 1,124 families numbering 4,910 persons from Colombo district, 653 families numbering 2,709 persons from Kalutara district, 2,184 families numbering 9,828 persons from Ratnapura district, 600 families numbering 2,700 persons from Puttalam district, 73 families numbering 329 persons from Nuwara-Eliya district, 5 families numbering 23 persons from Galle district, 2,500 families numbering 11,250 families from Gampaha district and 721 families numbering 2,660 persons from Kegalle district have been affected by the floods.

Twenty-four welfare centres in Ratnapura district and 13 welfare centres in Kegalle district have been established and 1,412 families have been housed at these centres. Meanwhile, landslides claimed seven lives, six in Ingiriya and one in Ayagama. Three houses were completely destroyed and 73 partly damaged.

The District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries of affected districts have been directed by the Ministry to provide all essential facilities and to make alternative arrangements to cater to the needs of the victims.

Badhiudeen said additional funds will be allocated as the need arise . A sum of Rs. 490,000 had been set apart for the Kalutara district, 500,000 for Ratnapura and Rs. 1 million for Gampaha district.

Arrangements have been made to provide Rs 15,000 for funeral expenses of each dead victim. Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry has opened a 24-hour hotline on the flood situation on 011 2431579.