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India sends relief as Sri Lanka flood toll exceeds 150
Colombo, May 18: India today rushed inflatable rubber dinghies and a medical team to Sri Lanka as the Island nation appealed for foreign help to tackle the aftermath of the worst flooding in 56 years that left over 150 people dead.
Colombo, May 18: India today rushed inflatable rubber dinghies and a medical team to Sri Lanka as the Island nation appealed for foreign help to tackle the aftermath of the worst flooding in 56 years that left over 150 people dead.
Indian diplomats here said that INS Sujatha was heading towards Sri Lanka today with a load of dinghies and a medical team to help victims of flooding and earth slips in the districts of Ratnapura, Galle, Matara and Hambantota.
The request was made as Ratnapura district secretary, Malini Premaratne said at least 81 people were killed in floods and earth slips in the region alone. "We have found 34 bodies so far and have confirmed the deaths of another 47," she said, adding 115,000 people in the district had been left homeless.
"Rescue operations are underway, but there are areas we are unable to reach," Premaratne said.
Another 10 deaths have been reported in the Matara district where police believed that 50 people were feared buried alive in mudslides. The Sri Lankan Navy has deployed 20 boats in the area. Air force helicopters dropped water bottles and bread.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe flew by helicopter to the flood-affected areas immediately on his return from a two-day private visit to Kerala today, officials said.
Torrential rains flooded most of the gem-rich Ratnapura district with schools, homes and even hospitals going under several feet of water, police chief Prassana Nanayakkara said. The main police station in Ratnapura, 100kms south-east of Colombo was also under water. Nanayakkara said there were at least 36 earth slips in the district and many people were feared buried alive.
Bureau Report
The request was made as Ratnapura district secretary, Malini Premaratne said at least 81 people were killed in floods and earth slips in the region alone. "We have found 34 bodies so far and have confirmed the deaths of another 47," she said, adding 115,000 people in the district had been left homeless.
"Rescue operations are underway, but there are areas we are unable to reach," Premaratne said.
Another 10 deaths have been reported in the Matara district where police believed that 50 people were feared buried alive in mudslides. The Sri Lankan Navy has deployed 20 boats in the area. Air force helicopters dropped water bottles and bread.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe flew by helicopter to the flood-affected areas immediately on his return from a two-day private visit to Kerala today, officials said.
Torrential rains flooded most of the gem-rich Ratnapura district with schools, homes and even hospitals going under several feet of water, police chief Prassana Nanayakkara said. The main police station in Ratnapura, 100kms south-east of Colombo was also under water. Nanayakkara said there were at least 36 earth slips in the district and many people were feared buried alive.
Bureau Report