Cyclone Ditwah Search operations for the missing to continue

Rescue workers cannot approach certain active landslide sites   

Search operations look futile at some places

Authorities fear that rescue work may be hampered if rain persists

1.8 million people have been affected by weather-induced disasters across the country 

 By Kelum Bandara   

Search operations at landslide sites will continue unless family members or relatives of those missing request otherwise, or the government takes a policy decision to discontinue them, an official said yesterday.  

According to the Disaster Management Centre’s (DMC) situation report valid up to 4.00 p.m. yesterday, 193 persons were reported missing, while 639 people had been confirmed dead at that time. Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on November 28, unleashing floods and landslides and damaging the country’s infrastructure, including highways, rail lines, transmission lines, irrigation tanks, and canals.  

Rescue teams are still carrying out search operations in the areas where landslides occurred in the hilly districts. A DMC spokesman said operations would continue in search of the missing unless their surviving family members or relatives request them to be abandoned. Search operations are conducted during daytime. Rescue teams from India and Pakistan, along with sniffer dogs, are also in the country assisting with the efforts.  

Disaster management authorities fear that rescue work may be hampered if rain persists. Already, 1.8 million people have been affected by weather-induced disasters across the country.  

Asked about the current status of rescue work, Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi told Daily Mirror that search operations had not even begun at certain active landslide sites.  

“In some places, landslides are still active. It is riskyto reach them for search operations. For example, three persons who rushed to rescue people in Thulhiriya were buried alive when a mound of earth collapsed on them.

Also, in some locations, search operations have come to a standstill because it is too arduous to proceed,” he said.  

He said the government had not yet taken any decision to discontinue search operations.  

“We are still in a disaster-response situation,” he added.     

The Registrar General’s Department said that death registration certificates will be issued for 203 individuals reported missing following the landslides and floods triggered by Cyclone Ditwah.  

Registrar General Sasidevi Jaladeepan said the decision was taken following a special gazette issued on December 2, enabling the issuance of a death certificate if a person remains missing for two weeks after a sudden disaster with no new information.  Accordingly, this would help to expedite the government compensation process for affected families.   

Legal provisions have been put in place, and once the Grama Niladhari confirms that a resident has gone missing due to the disaster, the District Deputy Registrar is authorised to issue the certificate.  

If no objections are received, the Divisional Secretary may approve the application, which is then processed by the Regional Deputy or Assistant Registrar General.  

The Registrar General said that death certificates have already been issued for 126 of the 611 individuals confirmed to have died in the disaster.