Torrential rain wreaks havoc

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

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Last week’s torrential rain wreaked havoc in many parts of the Western province and several families were rendered homeless in the Puttalam district.

Rs. 6.3 million has been allocated to Government Agents of flood stricken areas by the National Disaster Relief Services Centre to be distributed among those affected by the flash floods.

A spokesman for the National Disaster Relief Services Centre said only cash was allocated for Government Agents in the area. “They will decide whether dry rations are to be distributed among the flood victims.” The areas affected by the flash floods are Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Matara, Puttalam and Ratnapura. Gampaha was the worst affected division where 15,632 families and 67,156 persons were displaced. The number affected is as follows: Attanagalle (1,286), Gampaha (1,925), Ja-ela (12,550), Katana (13,380), Kelaniya (3,435), Mahara (333), Minuwangoda (1,006), Negombo (2,241) and Wattala (31,000). Twenty-two camps have been set up to accommodate flood victims in Gampaha, Matara and the Puttalam areas.

Puttalam is the second flood affected division after Gampaha with 2,781 families and 11,064 persons rendered homeless.

Residents of Ja-ela have complained that the water level at the Dandugama-Oya has risen threatening nearly 500 families living in the Galigam-Kotogoda area.

The water flowing into the sea has been prevented as a result of the construction work of the super highway which had been abandoned temporarily.

Due to the heavy downpour, motorists have been warned against travelling on the Colombo-Badulla road at Haldamulla, Beragala due to earthslips.

The National Disaster Relief Services Centre said that more than 20,672 families were displaced and 86,128 persons were affected by the flash floods.

Two deaths were reported from Gampaha and the Wattala areas. Earthslips were reported from other parts of the country as well.