Rain death toll rises to 16 | Daily News

Rain death toll rises to 16

 Over 138,292 persons affected :
Eight Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) troops with the Road Development Authority (RDA) on Thursday night repaired and readjusted the parallel old bridge at Kaduwela since the sideways of the bridge are faced with soil erosion and pose a danger. Troops assisted in erecting a detour road using metal structures so that vehicles that pass the threatened area could proceed unhindered. Picture by Rukmal Gamage
Eight Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) troops with the Road Development Authority (RDA) on Thursday night repaired and readjusted the parallel old bridge at Kaduwela since the sideways of the bridge are faced with soil erosion and pose a danger. Troops ass

The death toll following the prevailing disaster situation triggered by devastating pre-monsoon rains has risen to 16, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) yesterday announced.

According to the latest report issued by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), a total of 138,292 persons belonging to 35,129 families have been affected by the inclement weather condition in 20 districts.

The South-West Monsoon is still suppressed by the persisting wind circulations and is expected to settle by end of this week.

As of now, 16 deaths and two individuals missing have been reported to the Disaster Management Centre while eight people have been injured.

According to DMC statistics, the heavy downpour also damaged 63 houses totally and 3,701 partially.

People in flood risk areas have been evacuated to safe locations. Approximately, 13,199 families have been evacuated to 231 welfare centres due to flood and landslide risks in 10 Districts. The National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) has provided Rs.35.66 million cash allocations to the 12 District Secretaries to address the immediate needs of the affected populations.

The four NDRSC and DMS have also taken measures to distribute stocks of life jackets, boots, raincoats, sleeping sheets and blankets for the affected persons.

Agencies who are providing humanitarian assistance have been directed to North-Western areas and also some agencies are supporting communities in affected areas of Kalutara and Ratnapura.

Access to the Kaduwela main bridge towards the Biyagama road is now restored which was closed due to damage to side-wall of the bridge. Spill gates of reservoirs in North-Western area had to be opened and 20 spill gates of the Thabbowa reservoir has been opened.

Down-stream areas in Thabbowa has been inundated and communities are taken to safe areas, the Bingiriya Bund tank has also been damaged,the Ja-Ela-Bowatta road also blocked due to erosion in the Uruwal -canal with a number of roads in the Malwana area inundated.

At present, Rjanganaya, Thabbowa and Daduru-Oya are spilling.

Boraluwewa in Kobeigane is at spill level and the tank bund has been cleared to drain excess water, a road has been blocked in Udugampola due to fallen tree, There were deaths reported from Alawwa, Othara, Thiruwampola, Nawathalwatta due to earth slip.

Navy divers conducted a search for a missing person of a hotel in Biyagama.

The Meteorological Department Duty Forecaster said that the Prevailing showery condition may continue to next 72 hours in South-western area.

Heavy rainfall of around 100-150 mm is expected in the Sabaragamu, Western, Central and North-Western areas and while evening showers are expected in other areas, especially in North due to current wind disturbance.

Irrigation Department sources state that several major river levels are receding.

However, the recorded rainfall in the Southwestern areas had seen a decrease, most areas in the North-Western experienced heavy rainfall resulting floods in Puttalam and Kurunegala.

The Meteorological Department also issued a fresh alert to the Naval and fishing communities asking them to be vigilant as windy and showery conditions are expected to further enhance in the Western and Southern sea areas.

The public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by lightning activity since there may be temporary localised strong winds during thundershowers.

The National Building Research Organization has issued landslide warnings for Ratnapura, Kalutara, Badulla, Kegalle, Kandy, Matale, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle, Colombo and Kurunegala due to earth slips, cut failures and rock falls.

 

 

 


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