29 October 2014 03:54 am Views - 68766
Contradicting earlier reports issued by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) about the dead bodies recovered from the Koslanda landslide, DMC Assistant Director Pradeep Kodippili said yesterday that only three dead bodies were found related to the landslide.
He also said that the actual number of the missing people was around 100.
There were no dead bodies found yesterday during the search operations in the area, he added.
2014-10-29 09:24:52 - 192 people still missing
DMC Assistant Director Pradeep Kodippili said according to the latest information 192 people were believed to be missing in yesterday’s landslide at Meeriyabedda estate and rescue operations were underway.
He said the Army and Police personnel were engaged in rescue operations while five teams from the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) were also deployed in the rescue mission.
Rescue operations were halted last evening because of heavy rains.
He said 817 displaced people were being sheltered in two camps at Ampitikanda and Koslanda.
However, there were contradictory reports on the exact number of the dead and the missing.
According to Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana, only three dead bodies were found in the incident.
“According to confirmed police reports as of 12 noon today, we discovered three bodies including a body of 6-year-old girl. The displaced persons at the two camps complained that 19 people have gone missing,” he said.
He said 65-70 houses were destroyed in the landslide. According to the police 210-220 people had lived in the affected area and 190 of them were sheltered at the camps.
Video by Sanath Desmond
2014-10-29 09:24:52 - 150 trapped; 150 safe in Badulla landslide
Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said 150 people were trapped under the rubble while another 75 children and 75 adults were safe following this morning’s landslide at Meeriyabedda estate in Haldummulla.
Minister Amaraweera said 330 people had been living at the location and the children who had gone to school and the adults who had gone out for work at the time of the tragedy escaped.
2014-10-28 09:24:52 - 300 believed trapped in Badulla landslide
More than three hundred people are believed to be trapped in this morning’s land slide at Haldummulla in Badulla while eight bodies have been recovered, Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
The land slide had also destroyed 120 estate line rooms and three government quarters.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said an area of about two kilometres had been affected in the landslide.
DMC Assistant Director Udayakumara said that the rescue operations are underway with the help of the army and the police. Meanwhile, Military Spokesman RuwanWanigasuriya said 500 soldiers have been deployed in the rescue mission.
Air force spokesman Gihan Seneviratne said a BEL 212 helicopter was on standby in Nuwara Eliya because the adverse weather had made it impossible to get to Badulla.
Wing Commander Seneviratne said a M17 helicopter was also on standby at the Ratmalana domestic airport for any emergency.
Meanwhile The DMC said two camps were set up at Ampitikanda and Koslanda to provide shelter to people living in vulnerably areas close to the Meeriyabedda estate and some 100 people are being sheltered there at present.
A contingent of more than 500 army soldiers have been currently conducting rescue operations with the help of other agencies and moved sections of displaced people into two common halls in Koslanda, army said.
They said the Army was busy preparing meals and other requirements of those affected at present. (Chaturanga Pradeep)
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Video by Prasanna Padmasiri Bandara
Pix by Prasanna Padmasiri Bandara