Rains claim four lives, 45,000 displaced

COLOMBO: The prevailing heavy inter-monsoon rains have caused four deaths and 45,000 people from 8,000 families have been displaced. Many areas in several districts were flooded. The four deaths have been reported from Dankotuwa, Neluwa and Yakkalamulla.

Around 500 houses have been destroyed in Gampaha, Kalutara, Colombo and Ratnapura districts.

Residents of Gampaha, Wattala, Katana and Ja-Ela areas were seriously affected by the heavy rain.

Puttalam, Naththandiya, Mahawewa, Dankotuwa, Veyangoda, Galle and Yakkalamulla have been affected by floods. Public transportation has come to a standstill and telephone lines and electricity lines have been seriously damaged.

Landslides have occurred in Deraniyagala due to heavy rain.

Kelani, Kalu, Walawa and Gin rivers are about to overflow. The water level of Ma-Oya has increased.

The present climate will continue till the end of November, Deputy Director of the Meteorological Department S. Kariyawasam said.

The public are warned to take precautions against heavy thunder and lightning activity during this period.

The Government has provided Rs. 4 million relief assistance to those displaced by the torrential rains which began on October 13.

Rs.20,000 will be given as compensation to reconstruct damaged houses.

The Government has already handed over funds to Divisional Secretaries to provide cooked meals and other essential dry rations to flood victims.

Disaster Relief Service Ministry's National Disaster Management Centre Director N.D. Hettiarchchi told the Daily News that the prevailing heavy rains and occasional cyclonic winds were a feature of the inter-monsoon rains.