Floods recede, tab on outbreak of diseases

Shirley Wijesinghe

Floods in Ratnapura and Kalutara districts have eased but authorities warned of mosquito and water-borne diseases.

"Polluted drinking water is the main problem in flood affected areas, while several measures have been taken by Divisional Secretariats in these areas to control the spread of disease," sources said.

A team of officers from the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) would make a visit today to report on the situation that has arisen due to the floods in Ratnapura district, the Officer of Ratnapura District Disaster Management Centre said.

Ratnapura Provincial Health Services Director Athula Dangolla told the Daily News that there will be no risk of any diseases at epidemic level in the recently flooded area.

But due to slow receding of the flood level in the area, including Ratnapura Municipality, Kiriella, and Elapatha Secretarial Divisions most drinking wells were polluted by mud and silt deposits. Operations are underway to clear them and measures have been taken by the Health authorities to distribute disinfectant powder for their drinking water wells.

Explaining the situation of the Kalutara District Disaster Management Centre, District Coordinator Major Sanjeewa Samaranayake said that roads affected by floods near the Kalu Ganga have already been cleared and the immediate drinking water requirement of the villagers of Dodangoda would be supplied through water bowsers.

According to Meteorology Department sources the bad weather condition in the country is fading away and returning to normal.