Mercy missions in flood-hit areas

Rafik JALALDEEN

COLOMBO: As torrential rains continued with escalating flood havoc in eight districts, the Ministry of Disaster Management assisted by the three Armed Forces were on rescue missions in the affected areas.

By noon yesterday, the floods had claimed 18 lives with three others reported missing in the flood ravaged areas. National Organiser of Disaster Management Centre Colonel K. Ekanayake said that continuing heavy rains left 65,693 families homeless in eight districts.

“The flood victims had been housed in 38 IDP centres in the affected districts and provided with basic essentials such as cooked meals and mats. More relief material and other assistance will be provided to the people effected by the floods,” he added.

However, he said immediate measures had been taken to dispatch dry rations, clothes and other essential needs with the support of the three forces and police.

“The relief will be distributed by the Ministry of Disaster Management through the Divisional Secretariat, District Secretariat and Disaster Coordinating Centres of the relevant areas,” he added.

He pointed out that water levels in Ratnapura had dropped considerably while it was rising in the Galle and Kalutara districts.

“Water levels are also on the rise in the Galle and Kalutara districts due to rain waters from Ratnapura flowing towards the South,” Colonel Ekanayake said. Around 541 Grama Niladari Divisions were affected by the torrential rains in the eight districts and 253,517 rendered homeless.

“Most of the deaths and flood damage were reported from the Kalutara district. Three persons were reported missing and two injured while 80 houses were totally destroyed and 478 houses partially damaged,” he added.

Minister of Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe visited the worst hit areas by floods and issued instructions for immediate relief assistance to the victims.

Air Force helicopters and Navy boats were deployed to transport and rescue flood victims.

Air Force to the rescue of flood victims

COLOMBO: Air Force helicopters were deployed on Monday and yesterday to rescue and assist marooned flood victims in several areas, Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

Four flood victims were rescued including a 14 day old infant by an Air Force rescue team and brought to the Nagoda hospital for treatment.

“We deployed helicopters on rescue operations to help flood victims in the Bulathsinhala area on Monday and also rescued four persons who were brought to the Katukurunda Air Base and thereafter they were transferred to the Nagoda hospital by ambulance”, the Wing Commander said.

He said an infant and an elderly woman were among the victims.

“The Air Force rescue team also distributed dry rations and other relief items on Monday and yesterday to the flood victims in the Kalutara district”, he added.