Madu Church area flooded by torrential rain

Devotees who arrived at the Madu Church to participate in the Church's annual feast have been faced with severe inconvenience after torrential rains inundated the area on Monday (14), the District Disaster Management Center Office stated. 

According to the Madu Police, an estimated 200, 000 pilgrims had been camped on the Church grounds when the sudden torrential downpour hit on Monday evening. The pilgrims had been staying in makeshift accommodation built out of cloth. The rains had lashed the area for over two hours, resulting in the entire area being inundated. The pilgrims' accommodation was also flooded, severely inconveniencing tens of thousands who had been camped out waiting for the feast to begin. 

While the floodwaters had receded by yesterday (15), the entire area has become a muddy, making it difficult for people to move about. 

Meanwhile, a female devotee is also reported to have died from shock following a lightning strike. 

Text and Pix by Augustine Fernando

 

 

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