By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  The total

death toll due to adverse weather had claimed the lives of 12 people including eight men, two women, and two children, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said while issuing a situation report yesterday.  

It is said that the deaths were reported from Badulla (4-drowning), Matale (1-drowning), Mulaitivu (1-lightning), Puttalam (1-lightning), Kurunegala (2-wall collapses and drowning), Kegalle (3-landslide)  

A total of 28,263 people from 7,529 families have been affected in seventeen districts, including 93 Divisional Secretariats in the country as of last evening.  

A total of 802 houses were partially damaged while 13 houses had been completely destroyed.  

Meanwhile, the Meteorology Department advised naval and fishing communities not to venture into the South-West Bay of Bengal sea area and the deep and shallow sea areas around the island until further notice,   

They said that it was likely to intensify further into a depression during the next 36 hours and move West-North-Westwards towards  the Northern part of Tamil Nadu, closer to the Northern coast of Sri Lanka.  

There can be heavy showers or thunder-showers, strong winds up to 60 to 70 kmph associated with rough seas over the aforementioned sea area and the sea areas around the island.  Therefore, the department requested those who are in the aforementioned sea regions be advised to return to the coasts or move to safer areas as soon as possible.  Also, the Sri Lanka Railways Station Masters’ Union said the Railway Department had taken steps to cancel eight train services between Colombo Fort and Kandy until further notice due to adverse weather condition.