Video: Bad weather deaths reach 23

Although rain had ceased in most parts of the country, several areas remained inundated while the death toll rose to 23 with 15 more missing. 68,904 families were reported to be affected by the bad weather, the Disaster Management Centre said.

Chillaw, Bangadeniya, Mahawewa, Batticaloa and Ambalantota Towns were under water last evening, while 31 of the 72 major tanks in the country had reached spill level.

Several roads, including the Kandy-Badulla Road, Padiyapala-Walapane Road, Puttalam-Chilaw Road, The A5 road between Nuwara Eliya and Chenkaladi, Potuwill-Panama Road and the Nuwara Eliya-Welimada Road were closed due to floods and earth slips.



The Disaster Management Centre, together with the police and the armed forces, were making every effort to clear the roads.

Some 15,000 acres of paddy was underwater in several areas of the Eastern Province, including Lahugala, Potuvil, Panama and Elabada. In addition 6000 acres of paddy were ruined in Wariyapola and 200 acres of paddy were under water in Embilipitiya.

The water levels of 31 major tanks out of 72 had reached spill level by last evening and sluice gates of 10 major tanks and 41 medium sized tanks were opened in Anurdhapura. The gates of 11 tanks in Hambantota, five in Kurunegala (including Deduruoya) three in Moneragala and three in Puttalam were also opened. Eight sluice gates were opened in the Parakarama Samurdraya.

Tourists residing in the Talgasmankada bungalow in the Yala National Park were evacuated as the water level of Veheragala Tank was rising. The water levels of small tanks in the national park were also said to be rising. The sluice gates of Lunugamvehera Tank and Udawalawe Tank were also opened last afternoon.

It was also reported that Arachchikattuwa was almost 15 feet under water.

Disaster Management Centre Deputy Director (Media) Sarath Lal Kumara said 358 houses had been destroyed and 1907 partly damaged. Some 5231 families were placed in 102 camps in five districts.

It was also reported that train services in some areas were disrupted due to floods. These included the upcountry main line night mail and Rajarata Rajini, which operates from the Colombo to Omanthai via Vavuniya.

Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amraraweera said everything would be done to save the lives of the people and to provide them relief. He said strict action would be taken against those who failed to provide relief to the people. He said that relief had been delayed in some areas. (YP)