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Flood disaster worsens: Northern Province also hit
View(s):By Nadia Fazlulhaq
The death toll due to the floods and landslides caused by heavy rains that have affected 21 districts in the country in the past two weeks has reached 40 with more than 400,000 persons affected.
The number of damaged houses has reached 25,865 by yesterday, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), with the deaths being reported mainly from the Matale, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura and Puttalam districts.
During the past few days, the Northern Province was lashed by heavy showers and more than 105,000 people have been affected there with some 33,000 sheltered in make-shift camps.
Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the Government had allocated Rs. 142 million relief assistance and the money had been sent to the District Secretaries. In the North, the Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts were the worst hit.
The highest number of damaged houses, 12,600, was reported from the Mullaitivu district. In Killinochchi, 4,373 people have moved to camps. In Jaffna district, the Jaffna town, Kayts and Sandillpay were affected by heavy showers on Thursday. Disaster Management Centre spokesman Pradeep Kodippilli said measures were being taken to provide relief to the affected families.
“Cooked meals are being provided through the Divisional Secretaries while dry rations, bottles of water are being distributed to state agencies and non-governmental organisations,” he said.
Meanwhile, heavy showers have left tanks and reservoirs reaching spill level, Irrigation Department Director Janaki Meegastenna said.
Agrarian Services Deputy Minister S.M. Chandrasena said about 180,000 acres of paddy land had been destroyed mainly in the Batticaloa and Kurunegala districts. He said steps had been taken to distribute seed paddy and fertliser free-of-charge to affected farmers.
The Meteorology Department Chief S.H. Kariyawasam said the Northern, Eastern, North Central, Uva and Central provinces would be hit by heavy showers while evening thunder showers were likely in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Galle and Kurunegala districts.
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