Adverse weather heralds agony

Saturday, 27 December 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

14 dead and 800,000 affected in 17 districts

At least 14 persons have been killed and nearly 800,000 affected in 17 districts due to floods and mudslides caused by heavy rains across the country in the past three days. A total of 10 deaths have been reported from the worst-affected Badulla District alone as authorities continue search operations for missing landslide victims amidst prevailing inclement weather and risk of further landslides in the area. According to reports, yesterday three bodies were recovered after a landslide buried around five houses and their occupants in Rilpola, Badulla. Several others are reported missing as at least 10 persons were inside the homes at the time of the incident. Another three persons, including a mother and her son, died as a result of two separate earthslips in Galkanda and Hegoda areas. Four more deaths have also been reported from Uduwaha, Karunapura, Medhapathana and Pahalagama areas in the Badulla District. The Disaster Management Centre said that reports of another four deaths, five injured persons and two missing persons have been received from other parts of the country. Some 185,079 families across 17 districts in Northern, Central, North Western, Eastern, North Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa and Western Provinces have been affected by the bad weather, it said. The Government says that it has allocated over RS. 160 million for relief activities while another sum of Rs. 200 million will be disbursed for the benefit of victims. Sri Lanka Railways said all train services from capital Colombo to the central hill areas of Kandy, Badulla and Matale were cancelled due to the severe weather conditions. The Meteorological Department said that low pressure has increased into a depression located just off the southeast coast and that strong winds up to 60 kms are expected. People have been asked to stay away from coastal areas. The Department of Meteorology yesterday said that significant rainfalls have been reported from main meteorological stations during the 24 hours ending at 8:30 a.m. last morning. It said that rainfall of 275.8mm from Pottuvil, 195.9 from Badulla, 145.7mm from Moneragala, 134.9 mm from Bandarawela and 112.0 from Hambantota had been reported yesterday. People living in the vicinity of rivers and reservoirs have been asked to remain cautious regarding rising water levels with the opening of sluice gates. Meanwhile residents of 11 districts have been cautioned over the risk of earth slips, landslides and rock falls.

President orders immediate relief

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed a committee headed by Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga to provide immediate relief to those who have been affected by current inclement weather. Tri-Service Commanders are the other members of the committee. The President also directed the Treasury yesterday to release necessary funds for the relief operations. Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Spokesman Sarath Lal Kumara said the distribution of food and other relief for those affected by the inclement weather was being carried out through the District Secretaries with the coordination of other regional stakeholders and tri-forces personnel. He said cooked food and dry rations have been provided to the affected, adding that sufficient funds have been disbursed to the DS officers to carry out relief measures. Kumara said about 27,811 persons belonging to 7,491 families in Mannar, Kandy, Matale, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura had been affected by heavy rains, floods and high winds over the past few days. National Building Research Organization (NBRO) officials requested people to be alert to the possibility of landslides and cut slope failures in Matale, Kandy, Badulla and Nuwara Eliya.