Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

Lanka escapes Tauktae lashing, but threats loom from monsoon amid pandemic

- By Jayani Chathurang­ika

By Jayani Chathurang­ikaThe Arabian Sea tropical cyclone Tauketae is heading towards the western coast of India but not before causing havoc here with about 50,000 being affected by floods, landslides and strong winds upto Sunday. “Altyhough the cyclone Tauktae is moving towards India's Gujarat region for a landfall on Tuesday and its adverse effects on Sri Lanka are receding, people are advised to be cautious of strong winds in the coming days that can cause damage to property and lives," said Kasun Pasquel, Duty Meteorolog­ist of the Meteorolog­y Department.

He also issued another warning: Although, Tauktae's impact is receding, the South West monsoon will continue to bring torrential rains.

According to the Met Department forecast for this week, showers or thundersho­wers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamu­wa, Central and North- western provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts. Fairly heavy falls can be expected at some places in the NuwaraEliy­a and Kandy districts too. The public should take adequate precaution­s to minimise damage caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thunder showers.

As a result of last week’s storm, four people died due to flash floods and earth slips. More than 600 houses suffered damage, and 1247 people were affected by floods in the Colombo and Gampaha districts while eleven families from Udapalatha, Kandy were evacuated to safe places.

According to the Disaster Management Centre, 46,730 persons from 11,796 families were affected by the torrential rain- led disasters with the majority from Gampaha district.Roads were inundated with flood waters in Kelaniya, Attanagall­e, Watt ala, Mahara, Divulapiti­ya, Minuwangod­a, Mee rig am a,Dompe, Negombo, Gampaha and Katana areas. ( See pics) Kalutara experience­d the highest rainfall of 336 mm. In Galle, Karapitiya Godakanda, Uluwitage, Opatha and lowlands in Baddegama were inundated with flood waters.

Areas in the vicinity of Deduru oya, Attanagalu oya, Kelani, Kalu, Gin and Nilwala rivers experience­d flash floods. Floods were also reported in a number of low lying areas in Colombo district, and in Kurunegala and Matara. As the water levels rose, 1247 people from 304 families were taken to safety shelters with the majority from Kotte, Kaduwela, Kolonnawa, Seethawaka, Colombo city.

The official advised the Navy and deep sea fishermen to stay away from venturing into the southeast Arabian sea until the present stormy condition subsided.

Due to last week's storm, three people were killed in flash floods and soil collapse. More than 200 houses suffered damage. About 170 affected people were moved to safe places, officials said.

They said landslides occurred in Rambukkana, Bulathkohu­pitiya, Warakapola and several areas in the Kegalle district. Areas in the vicinity of Deduru oya, Attanagalu oya, Kelani, Kalu, Gin and Nilwala rivers experience­d floods.

Irrigation Department Water Management Director D. Abeysiriwa­rdena said sluice gates of 10 reservoirs had been opened due to heavy rains with water levels of 15 reservoirs reaching the maximum capacity.

He said irrigated agricultur­e in Hambantota, Mannar and Anuradhapu­ra was also affected due to the heavy rains. In Monaragala, 25 acres of corn harvest was damaged due to the torrential rains.

Meanwhile, the Air Force said it was monitoring the flood situation triggered by rising river water levels to coordinate rescue missions.

During the weekend, the National Building Research Organisati­on issued landslide warning to the Kalutara district's Ingiriya, Palindanuw­ara, Bulathsinh­ala, Walallawit­a, Mathugama, Agalawatta, Dodangoda and Horana areas; the Galle district's Niyagama, Baddegama, Yakkalamul­la, Neluwa, Galle Four Gravets, Nagoda, Thawalama and Elpitiya areas, the Matara district's Pitabeddar­a area, the Colombo district's Seethwaka area, the Kegalle district's Warakapola and Dehiowita areas and the Rat nap ur a district' s Eheliyagod­a area.

Janaka Handunpath­iraja, Assistant Director of the Disaster Management Centre, said that with the country's covid situation in mind, they were taking what

was necessary to face any adverse ef fect of the Southwest monsoon.

The DMC official said they had earmarked the Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Galle, Matara, Kegalle, Puttalam and Hambantota districts as high risk regions.

People in high risk areas will be advised to evacuate to friends or relatives (in safer areas) if possible and minimise community contact to avoid the spreading of COVID 19, he said. In case of emergency more than 3000 troops have been trained to be deployed on rescue missions. The DMC has projected that about 35,000 persons will be affected by the upcoming monsoon.

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Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
BANDARAWAT­TE Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
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