Colombo, November 29 (Udaipur Kiran): Cyclonic storm Dithya has caused massive destruction across Sri Lanka, with continuous heavy rainfall, floods and landslides pushing the situation to a critical level in several parts of the country. The death toll has risen to 69, while a large number of people are still missing and search operations are underway. The situation has further worsened due to the washing away of several bridges and roads.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued a notification declaring electricity, petroleum products and gas supply, hospitals and water supply as essential services in view of the emergency.
According to the Daily Mirror, quoting the Meteorological Department, a persistent low-pressure system remains active over Sri Lanka, drawing in moisture-laden winds and triggering repeated intense weather activity. Due to continuous heavy rainfall, several major reservoirs have reached full capacity. On Friday, the Moragahakanda Reservoir reached its maximum level, following which its spill gates were opened. During this period, the massive Moragahakanda–Laggala bridge collapsed, which served as a vital link between the Matale, Polonnaruwa and Kurunegala districts.
In a separate incident, five bodies were recovered after a severe landslide near Yahangala mountain in the Hasalaka area. Landslides have been reported from multiple regions of the country, and the risk of further such incidents remains high.
According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), the disaster that began on November 16 has so far affected over 63,000 families and 2,19,286 people across the country. So far, 69 people have lost their lives, while more than 34 people are missing.
The Sri Lankan government has announced that Sri Lankans living abroad and foreign nationals can contribute to the relief efforts. The Presidential Media Division said that details of the designated bank account are available at Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad and at foreign missions in Sri Lanka.
India has stepped forward to assist Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed on X that under this operation, INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri have delivered relief material to Colombo and further assistance is underway.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing condolences to the affected families and wishing for the safety and speedy recovery of the injured, said that under India’s Neighbourhood First policy, India stands firmly with Sri Lanka in this hour of crisis.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.
