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| Sunday, 2 January 2005 |
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Tsunami toll rises by the day- Police version by Jayampathy Jayasinghe The Tsumani death toll keeps rising as more and more bodies are being washed ashore, while bodies buried under the rubble are being excavated by rescue teams engaged in an arduous task. The stench emanating from rotten bodies strewn all over have become overwhelming for inhabitants and for rescue teams working in these areas, a spokesman said. Meanwhile the Disaster Management Centre at the Police Headquarters set up some time ago is in full gear following the devastating Tsunami tidal waves that hit the island. The Disaster Management Centre provides assistance to police officers and their families during times of crisis and disaster. DIG Crimes and Intelligence, Jayantha Wickremaratne in charge of the Disaster Management Centre said, around forty two deaths of foreign nationals have been reported to them. They include nationals of Japan, India, Germany Italy and other countries. Meanwhile, the bodies of eight Japanese drowned in the flood waters at Yala were identified and steps are being taken to dispose their bodies. The bodies of seven Indian nationals drowned in Trincomalee and Hikkaduwa have also been found along with two bodies of UK nationals and one of an American. Although the figures compiled by the police in respect of foreigners show a lesser number of deaths. The overall figure should be higher as scores of tourists in the southern belt are still missing. The total number of deaths reported up to Thursday stands around 23,000 and this number keeps increasing every day. In addition several persons are still reported missing. DIG Wickremaratne said that the unidentified bodies of foreign nationals found in the Yala sanctuary and elsewhere have been embalmed, photographed and finger printed to preserve their identity. "The process will eventually help their kith and kin, and friends for identification purposes." Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Alfred Wijewardena has been appointed to co-ordinate activities relating to the deaths of foreign nationals whose bodies have been brought to the Colombo Hospital morgue. SSP Wijewardena should be contacted for any information relating to any missing foreigner or regarding any dead body. DIG Wickremaratne said the police will forward the photographs of the Tsunami victims to foreign embassies to be circulated in their countries through the Foreign Ministry for purposes of identification. Interpol headquarters based in Paris have been requested to help in this process as most victims have lost their passports and other relevant documents. Meanwhile it was reported that eight policemen attached to Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Kalmunai have been drowned. In addition 13 police officers including two sub inspectors, one Inspector, Sergeants, Constables, and Reserve Policemen attached to Galle, Matara, Trincomalee Tangalle, Elpitiya, Ampara police stations have been reported dead or missing. The whereabouts of these policemen are not known as yet. The police stations badly affected by the Tsunami tide are Kalkuda, Hikkaduwa and Kosgoda Police stations. However, they have now resumed their functions. Meanwhile, DIG Wickremaratne has instructed police stations to deploy armed mobile patrols to provide security to food convoys despatched to various destinations in the country. There were reports that unidentified armed groups have robbed three Sirasa Sahana Yatra lorries which were bound to Batticaloa at Habarana last week. There are also reports that several food convoys have been robbed by armed groups in the South last week. The Police Disaster Management centre was set about two years ago to cope with the flood situation in Panadura, Kalutara and Ingiriya where 75 people died and 650 houses were destroyed about two years ago. |
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