Sri Lanka Floods: Indian High Commissioner in touch with Lankan authorities regarding rescue ops
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed provision of all assistance after India received an SOS from Sri Lanka to provide assistance following major flooding and landslides in the island nation.
Rescue personnel was deployed to disaster-affected zones in coordination with the Sri Lankan Navy and other Sri Lankan authorities, said the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo.
The High Commissioner also said that he was in touch with Sri Lankan authorities to coordinate additional assistance that many be required.
Heavy floods and landslides triggered by the worst rainfall since 1970s have killed at least 92 people and left 110 missing in Sri Lanka, officials said on Saturday, warning the situation could get worse.
Over 20,000 people have been displaced in seven districts as the south western monsoon caused havoc, destroying hundreds of homes and cutting off several roads.
“We have seen worst rainfall since the 1970s,” said Dunesh Gankanada, deputy minister of Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
“We are carrying out relief operations in some areas when we can’t even reach some of the affected areas,” Gankanda said, adding that people in the southeastern region of Ratnapura were taking shelter on tree tops.
The DMC said the death toll has risen to 92 and another 110 remain missing with …read more
