Colombo, May 28 (newsin.asia): The number of deaths reported in floods and landslides in Sri Lanka increased to 151 on Sunday, as Indian naval doctors and relief workers plunged into relief work in Kalutara district, and China pledged US$ 2.2 million worth of relief material.
The Chinese relief goods, which will be sent to Colombo by a chartered flight soon will include tents, blankets, sheets, rain boots, and life jackets, China Radio International said
Meanwhile, a second Indian naval vessel IND Shardul arrived here with more relief material. INS Kirch had already offloaded supplies on Saturday. A third vessel INS Jalashwa will be coming on Monday.
In its latest situation report, the DMC said the adverse weather conditions had affected, 442,299 people of 114,124 families.
Meanwhile Indian naval relief teams started working in Kalutara district south of the capital city.
The relief materials were received on Sunday by the Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ravi Karunanayake, the Minister of Disaster Management and the Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
India had responded within 24 hours of the Sri Lankan government’ global appeal for help, High Commissioner Sandhu said.
“In the traditions of India and Sri Lanka, it is neighbors and relations who rush to your help when you are in trouble,” Sandhu said.
The South-West monsoon had unleashed torrential rains, ravaging fourteen districts in the Western and Southern parts of the country on Thursday and Friday.
The disaster is described as one of the worst-ever calamities since the 2003 floods.
On Saturday, the DMC issued an urgent evacuation warning to residents on the banks of the Kelani River near Colombo.The areas affected are: Kollonnawa, Kaduwela, Wellampitiya, Kelaniya, Biyagama, Sedawatte, Dompe, Hanwella, Padukka and Avissawella.
The DMC said the residents of Meethotamulla (where the infamous garbage mountain which collapsed recently is located) were already evacuated.
It said water level in the Kelani River is rising rapidly as indicted by the water gauges at Nagalagam Street, Hanwella and Glencourse and warned residents to move away from the vulnerable area as it is under an imminent flood threat.
Those living along the banks of Nilwala Ganga, The Gin Ganga and Kalu Ganga were also asked to move to safer areas because of the rising water levels.
The Meteorology Department said that rains and windy conditions are expected to continue over the South-Western part of the country.
(The featured image at the top shows Indian naval doctors attending to a young Buddhist monk in flood hit Kalutara district south of Colombo on Sunday)
