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Disaster officials sat tight despite cyclone warning three weeks ago
View(s):By Chris Kamalendran
Three were killed — one in Batticaloa and two in Badulla. More than 1,300 houses were fully or partially damaged. Roofs were blown off and walls and retaining walls damaged.
Schools were closed on Friday as air pollution emanating from India hit dangerous highs. The skies in Colombo were grey. The National Building Research Organisation attributed this to “local air pollutants and transboundary air pollution’’.
The cyclone brought unusually cold weather and strong winds accompanied by heavy showers in several area.
Temperatures dropped on Thursday night and the impact was felt in Kilinochchi, where the weather is usually hot. Over 1000 cattle too have died due to the cold weather. Some villagers set up bonfires to keep the cattle warm. Veterinary Department officials were called in to rescue some of the cattle and goats.
Several roads became impassable with electricity posts and trees falling onto them. There was no power in some areas.
Disaster Management Centre deputy director Pradeep Kodippili told the Sunday Times said the developing cyclonic condition had been brought to its attention about three weeks back, but the centre did not want to create panic.
A warning was issued only on Wednesday to the public and the fishermen.
Reports from several areas said people had not been aware of the danger.
“We only heard reports that a cyclonic condition was passing Sri Lanka some 200 to 300 kilometres away from Trincomalee and, therefore, many did not pay attention to the warning,” said Gamini Pathirana from Passara.
He said that fortunately, there were no deaths in his village, but some have had narrow escapes from trees that had been felled and roofs that were blown off.
“We could have been prepared if there was any indication that we are going to be hit by the cyclone,” he said.
In Trincomalee, several fishing boats including multi-day trawlers washed ashore.
Some multi-day trawlers had been at midsea and had opted to remain in the same areas. They had been communicating with the Fisheries Department operational division, which was directing them to safer areas.
In Tirukkovil, Ampara, severe sea erosion was reported with some of the roads washed away.
In Chunnakam, Jaffna, hundreds of banana trees were destroyed.
In Mannar, several fishing boats were damaged. Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya were badly affected.
The Badulla District was one of the worst affected. The winds bore down on 13 Divisional Secretary Divisions and damaged 60 houses.
The Walapane, Hanguranketha and Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya District were also affected. At least 188 houses are damaged. The Hambantota , Monaragala, Ratnapura and Puttalam District, too, were affected.
Several public buildings including schools have been damaged.
A spokesman for the Department of Meterology said the wind is expected to die down by Saturday, but the rainy weather in several areas including, the Western, Southern, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces will continue.
(Additional reporting and pictures by N. Lohathayalan, Palitha Ariyawansah, Sumanasiri Gunatillake)
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