7 June 2021 08:42 am Views - 132
By Yohan Perera and Chathuranga Samarawickrama
The Five persons from the same family who were buried alive in the landslide in the Kegalle district resided in the area declared a red zone despite prior warnings about vulnerability, the Disater Management Centre ( DMC) said yesterday.
At least 16 people were reported dead in disasters triggered by incessant rain that lashed the country during the past several days.
DMC Deputy Director Kegalle District H. M. A. C. Bandara told Daily Mirror these five persons who perished from the same family had insisted on living in their residence despite the area being declared as a “ red zone “ They have stated that they were prepared to take the total responsibility in the event of a disaster. They have furnished affidavits to this effect in 2020,” he said.
As per data issued by the DMC five people have been buried in a landslide in the Kegalle district, while three in Gampaha, three in Ratnapura, one each from Galle, Colombo and Kalutara District and two from the Puttalam District have perished in the surging floodwaters. Some 279,912 persons belonging to 67,564 families in eight district have been affected by adverse weather conditions.
Nineteen houses were completely damaged and another 900 partly damaged due to floods. Eight districts remain affected by the adverse weather conditions. Water levels in the main rivers including Kelani, and, Gin were rising while the water level of the - Attanagalu Oya and Deduru Oya were receding.
Security forces were busy rescuing and helping affected persons. Officers of Sri Lanka light infantry regiment rescued a pregnant mother in Wellampitiya. Four persons have been rescued by the Navy in Ekala.