Five dead and over 1000 affected in recent rains

By Shezna Shums

Five persons have died and 1299 persons have been affected following the heavy rains, floods and landslides that were reported from the Kegalle, Galle and Kalutata Districts in the last few days.

Four persons had died due to landslides caused by heavy rain in Damala and Kendawa areas in the Kegalle District while one other person had died due to lightning in the Kalutara District.  

The deaths included a mother and daughter, and another boy who was buried under a cutting failure. The Disaster Management Centre said that one house was fully damaged while 14 houses had been partially damaged in both these incidents in the Kegalle District.

More rains are expected to continue in the districts of  Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kalutara and Galle where the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) had issued warnings of possible landslides.

R. M. S. Bandara Geologist NBRO said “We expect the heavy rains to continue and the landslide warning in these districts remain effective.”

Investigative teams from the NBRO are in these areas carrying out assessments and issuing warnings to people living in landslide prone areas to evacuate.

Some areas within these districts have received about 300 ml. of rainfall.

Meanwhile the military media office said two platoons were on stand by to undertake emergency relief work in the affected districts.During times of emergency, Air force and navy personnel carry out rescue efforts in the affected areas. Divisional Secretariats usually provide food and shelter until the situation improves and evacuated people are able to return to their homes.

Currently troops have been dispatched to areas in the Kegalle District to carry out further rescue and relief work where heavy rainfall, earth slips and landslides have affected a number of persons.

Most of the areas affected are low lying areas within the four worst affected districts.

The areas affected by the rains, floods and landslides are Galgamuwa and Bulathkohupitiya in Kegalle, Niyagama in the Galle District and Millaniya, Beruwala, Matugama and Horana in the Kalutara District.