News
Gusty winds in some parts and drought in other parts bring misery
View(s):More than thousand homes were damaged this week, due to strong winds that accompanied heavy showers sweeping through several parts of the country, while more than 650,000 people have been hit by the prolonged drought in some parts.
Downpour in Colombo. Pic by Priyanka Samaraweera
Several houses in Ratnapura, Vavuniya, Kegalle, Puttalam, Hambantota, Nuwara Eliya Avissawella, and Dambulla were damaged due to adverse weather conditions coupled with gusty winds. Affected families were moved to either temporary shelters or rented homes.
More than 40 tea-plucking families who live in dilapidated line rooms on a tea estate in Avissawella were evacuated early this week when rooftops made of temporary roofing sheets were damaged.
According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), 1124 houses were partly damaged due to strong winds in 14 districts while 4,918 people from 1,212 families have been affected due to rain and windy conditions.
Meanwhile 659,173 persons people 185,858 families are affected by the prolonged drought in some parts of the country. Meteorological Department officials said this was mainly due to poor rainfall.In some instances strong winds in spite of drought conditions have caused many trees to fall damaging houses and other properties.
On Friday, the Meteorological Department issued a fresh weather alert forecasting strong winds in certain areas of the country. 50 – 60 kmph wind speeds were expected in the North, North-Central, North-Western provinces and in the Trincomalee and Matale districts.
“The sea area extending from Puttalam to Trincomalee via Mannar and Kankasanturai and from Hatota to Pottuvil will be very rough with wind speeds upto 60-70 kmph at times,” the weather warning said.
The Meteorological Department’s Director (Weather forecasting and Decision Support) A.R. Warnasooriya said that prevailing windy conditions over the country and surrounding sea areas is expected to reduce in the coming days but showers would continue in the North Central and Central provinces.
DMC’s Director (Early Warning) K.A.D.P.K.Kodippili, told the Sunday Times that the process of evaluating damages has already begun in order to provide compensation to the affected families.
“Our assessment teams are currently engaged in evaluating the damages through each and every Grama Niladhari divisions. Once the assessments are completed and approved by senior officials, compensation would be issued to the families immediately,” he said.
Despair: A roof blown off in Puttalam. Pic by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
Drying up: Udawalawe tank. Pic by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi