Sri Lanka floods: Death toll crosses 200, over 6 lakh affected

The death toll in Sri Lanka’s floods has climbed to 202 with 94 people still missing in the country’s worst torrential rains since 2003 that displaced nearly half a million people.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said at least 6,29,742 people of 1,63,701 families have been affected by the bad weather.

The DMC said 1,505 houses had been fully damaged while 7,617 houses were partially damaged due to the floods and landslides. Around 77, 432 people have been displaced.

“There was good news on the receding water levels in rivers during the past 24 hours due to the low rainfall that ended at 3.30 pm,” the Irrigation Department said.

Director (Hydrology) P Hettiarachchi said the water levels in the Kalu Ganga and the Gin Ganga was decreasing.

Indian naval divers and medical teams have joined rescue efforts in Lanka’s flood-hit regions.

The Indian contingent of more than 300 navy personnel was assisting in the relief, with divers searching the brackish waters and medical teams seeing patients in makeshift tents set up at shelters.

INS ‘Shardul’ has nearly 200 personnel on board, including specialised rescue, diving and medical teams, as well as a large amount of relief material and Gemini inflatable boats.

INS ‘Kirch’ was carrying 125 personnel. It …read more