Over 214,000 hit by floods

More than 214,000 people belonging to 56,803 families in several districts have been affected by floods caused by heavy rain, Disaster Management Centre sources said.

Heavy rains was experienced in several parts of the country including Anuradhapura, Nuwara Eliya, Puttalam, Kandy, Ratnapura, Hambantota and Trincomalee. The worst hit is Batticalo District with nearly 200,000 persons being affected. Heavy rain was experienced in several parts of Batticaloa district including Eravurpattu, Eravur town, Manmunaipattu and Kattankudy.

Meanwhile, five sluice gates of Rajanganaya tank and two gates of Kala wewa were opened. The Puttalam -Mannar road was inundated at Eluwankulama area following sluice gates of Rajanganaya tank and Kala wewa being opened. Three sluice gates of Muruthawela tank in Hambantota were opened.

Meanwhile, Jawfer Khan our Batticaloa District Group Corr reports that nearly 2,951 persons belonging to 744 families have been displaced in the Batticaloa district on account of floods caused by heavy rains during the past few days. They have been temporarily accommodated in relief camps in Chenkaladi, Kiran, Wakarai and Eravur. Meanwhile, 99 houses have been completely damaged and 433 others partially damaged due to rain and floods. Most of these houses are wattle and daub houses, said Batticaloa Disaster Management co-ordinator A M Mohamed Kafir. The divisional secretaries assisted by World Vision and Red Cross are supplying cooked meals to the displaced.