News
Severe flood damage to crops, livestock and property in north, east
View(s):By S Rubatheesan
Severe weather conditions, including flash floods and strong winds, that prevailed in the North and Eastern provinces this week left 11 persons dead and 385,000 persons affected from over 100,000 families.
The heavy downpour with strong winds that commenced earlier this week due to a low pressure situation in the Bay of Bengal caused severe damage to crops, livestock and property.
In the Jaffna District, at least 64,621 persons from 19,560 families were affected, according to the latest situation report issued by the Disaster Management Centre. Hundreds of families are still in temporary shelters or homes of their relatives till the flood water recedes. T Kugathas, a shop owner near Nallur said he had never seen this much rain pouring at high intensity as it reached his shop and his house located nearby.
Flood waters are yet to recede completely, and roads remain under water
“This is very unusual. Our whole neighbourhood was flooded. We were stuck at home and returned yesterday, but the flood water around the house is yet to recede,” he told the Sunday Times.
Days after the bad weather conditions, government officials visited the two provinces to monitor the ongoing relief operations and gave necessary directions to address the urgent needs of the affected people. Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) visited Mannar and Ampara while Defense Secretary Air Vice Marshal (retired) Sampath Thuyacontha visited Jaffna this week.
The recent floods and winds threatened the livelihood of thousands of farmers across the two provinces and their crops.
Farmers said they were not informed early about the impending bad weather by authorities which they hoped would have helped them to plan their cultivation accordingly.
N Kunanathan of Kiththul in Eravurpattu, East commenced his cultivation three weeks ago and most of his young crops are washed over by the floods.
“I don’t know why they (authorities) could not inform about this weather condition through timely predictions despite so many advanced technologies and research studies available currently,” Kunanathan queried, stressing that it was too late – just a day before – when they came to know about the bad weather conditions later this week.
“We faced a similar issue last year as well where the monsoon rains bring flood water from central districts flows through our minor tanks. Officials who are responsible for water management also failed to act as the water level at the local minor tank could have been maintained at the lower level to reduce the impact of flood water coming from other regions,” he noted.
Samithambi Ranithevi, Koppaveli of Batticaloa said just like her, most of the farming families are on the edge of falling into poverty since they borrowed funds to cover cultivation expenses. Some of the farmers had to sow paddy for the second time since the erratic rains last month disrupted the cultivation.
“I am not sure what we are going to do next since we depend on the Maha season harvest for our family’s rice needs. On top of that, we are also under so much debt,” she told the Sunday Times.
Batticaloa District is the worst affected region among the two provinces due to the flooding coupled with strong winds this week where 71,618 persons from 23,141 families are affected.
District Secretary J J Muraleetharan told the Sunday Times that even though the weather situation improved since Friday with only occasional rains, the water level in several areas are yet to recede for the affected people to return to their respective homes.
“We have set up 56 temporary shelters to house affected families, but now only 15 are operational as the flood water is yet to recede. The Secretariat has devised a mechanism to ensure the supply of cooked meals and dry ration packages to affected families with the support of relevant government agencies and donations from public and non-governmental organisations,” the Secretary stressed.
Though flood water is yet to recede completely, the Secretariat is currently engaged in collecting information with regard to damages caused to residences, livestock and agricultural cultivation in the district.
With heavy rains from Tuesday (26), the Batticaloa District Secretariat launched a boat service to connect Pulipainthakal, Eravurpattu, Eeralakulam, Mayilavettuvan, Vetruchenai, Koralaipattru and Naseevanthivu areas.
“Even now connectivity with Vetruchenai remains disconnected, along with some areas in Kiran, due to the floods,” Secretary Muraleetharan said.
In the North, Mannar is among the worst affected districts where 68,103 persons from 19,783 families were affected due to bad weather conditions.
Jouvanis Amalarajan, a youth activist based in Mannnar is among those who extended a helping hand to assist flood-affected families with urgent needs.
“Through our network and other organisations, we have provided cooked meals during the bad weather and dry ration packages as they are preparing to return to their respective homes,” Amalarajan told the Sunday Times. (Additional reporting Theva Athiran and N Lohathayalan)
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