Rains wreak havoc

17 dead; 18000 families displaced in floods and landslides

by Anura Maitipe

Floods and landslides killed 17 people and displaced 18,000 families in six districts as the Government mobilised the Tri-Forces and Police in rescue operations in those inaccessible areas of Nuwara Eliya,Ampara,Monaragala, Badulla,Kandy and Hambantota districts.

The death toll rose to 17, with 13 killed in a major earthslip in Padiyapelella, Walapane. Four more deaths were reported yesterday, three in Haguranketha and one in Minipe.

Air Force helicopters evacuated civilians from earthslip prone Padiyapelalla. The Air Force spokesman Group Captain Ajanatha Silva said three Air Force helicopters - two MI 17 helicopters and one Bell 212- were engaged in rescue operations in Nuwara Eliya. Fifty commandos of Air Force special Operation Regiment were air dropped to rescue the affected. He said over 120 civilians were evacuated from Padiyapelalla by air.

Torrential rain resulting in floods and landslides damaged roads and affected electricity and telecommunication lines.

Army Engineers were yesterday building a temporary bridge on the Tissamaharama-Kirinda Road after torrential rain washed away a bridge earlier.The Army was also assigned to rebuild the Yoda Wewa bund in Tissamaharama which was damaged due to heavy rain. The Army and Air Force last night engaged in a rescue mission in the landslide hit Nuwara Eliya district.

The Minister of Disaster Relief Services Ameer Ali said 11,056 families in Ampara, 3794 families in Hambantota, 1477 families in Nuwara Eliya, 723 families in Monaragala, 170 families in Badulla and 23 families in Kandy were displaced by the flooding and earthslips.

Over 954 families have been displaced in the Walapane Divisional Secretariat area. Nuwara Eliya District Secretary R. M. M. B. Ratnayake told the Sunday Observer.

The Air Force dropped food, clothes, tents and medicine in areas which were inaccessible. Displaced families were being housed in relief centres. Ratnayaka called upon the public in the area to provide backhoes to expedite rescue operations and road clearance.Over 3794 families in the Hambantota district have also been displaced following heavy rains in Andarayaya, Magama, Walipethewella, Viharamahadevipura, Yodakandiya and Mahasenpura due to overflowing of Yodda Wewa, Tissa Wewa and Lunugamvehera, the Additional Divisional Secretariat P. L. Kalinga Priyawanssa said.

Displaced families in the Hambantota district have been provided with temporary shelters in schools, temples and community centres in the area.

Over 11,056 people were also displaced in Ampara and Potuvil following floods in Lahugala and Potuvil.

Meteorologist K. D. Sugeewa said that the rainy weather will continue for the next few days and monsoonal rains will prevail in the central hills, Uva, Hambantoa and the Galle district.

The National Building Research Institution (NBRI) has warned the public about the possibility of more sudden earthslips in Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura and Kegalle districts.

The flood gates of the Mahaweli reservoirs and the main storage tanks have been kept open and irrigation authorities have warned people not to bathe in the main canals of these tanks and rivers.

The National Building Research Institution (NBRI) has urged the public to be vigilant over sudden cracks in rocks, emergence of sudden spring mud water or any other sign of danger of earthslips to inform the NBRI through the police, Grama Sevaka or Divisional Secretary in the area.

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