WATERS RAVAGE EAST, NCP

*Several roads under water, landslide threat

*Police rescue marooned van with 24 passengers

Rasika Somarathna

Several roads in the eastern and north central areas were flooded as heavy rains continued yesterday, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) sources said. “The Batticaloa - Kattankudy, Manampitiya - Gallella and Sungawila - Somawathiya roads were inundated,” they said.

DMC sources said the extreme weather conditions displaced 456 people mainly in the North Central Province as landslide threats in some areas loomed large. Some people were evacuated on grounds of safety, they added.

Meanwhile, 24 people, including six children were rescued by the Police from a van which was being swept away by gushing waters near Kalu Palama in Wellaweli, Batticaloa last morning.

Our reporters in the area said the timely intervention by the Police who launched a major rescue operation amidst bad weather saved many lives.

The Police said the van carrying 24 passengers was travelling from Vellaweli to Batticaloa when the accident occurred near Kalu Palama in the Mandur road, which is four and a half kilometres from the Vellaweli Police station.

Our reporters said the van was caught in the water when the driver attempted to manoeuvre it across the Shoe Bridge. They said most areas were experiencing heavy rain with many roads being inundated.

The Police said they had immediately responded after receiving a call about the accident on their emergency hotline -119.

The van was carrying 12 males, six females and six children. The passengers were from Ampara and were travelling to Anuradhapura, the Police added.

The victims had sustained minor injuries and were brought to the Wellaweli police, where necessary assistance were given. Meanwhile, the Meteorology Department predicted more showers in several parts of the country.

“Showers or thundershowers at times will continue in the Eastern, Central, Uva and North-Central provinces and in the Hambantota district. Heavy falls are also likely at some places” they said..

Thundershowers will develop at several places in the Western, Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces during the afternoon and evening. There may be temporary localized fairly strong winds during thundershowers. The general public are requested to take adequate precautions to minimize the damages caused by lightning activities, Met Department sources added.