1,912 people affected, low pressure area still persists: Met Dept.

Some 1,912 people from 477 families have been affected due to the current deluge in the country, the Disaster Management Centre said.

They said the people affected were from Ratnapura, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Mullaitivu, Jaffna and Badulla districts due to heavy rain, lightning, squall and landslides.

So far one death has been reported from the Mullaitivu district due to lightning. 334 houses were partially damaged in the said districts and two houses were fully damaged in the Badulla district. 

Meanwhile, the Meteorology Department has said the low pressure area still persists in the vicinity of the country and showers or thundershowers could intensify in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces, particularly during the evening or in the night.

Heavy rains of more than 100 mm could be expected in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Kandy districts, Southern, Central and North-central provinces.

Therefore, the members of the general public are strongly advised to take adequate precautions to safeguard themselves from damages caused by squall and lightning during thundershowers, the department cautioned. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)