Colombo, Dec 1— Sri Lanka’s rescue operations intensified on Monday as officials reported 355 deaths and 366 people missing after Cyclone Ditwah tore through the island late last week.
The storm, which barreled in on Friday with fierce winds and relentless rain, triggered massive landslides in the hill country and brought the country’s worst flooding in ten years. Communities along major rivers saw homes inundated as families attempted to retrieve what they could from the mud-filled interiors.
The military said more than 24,000 troops were engaged in relief work, with 2,453 people already pulled to safety. In one overnight incident, the Navy rescued 68 people trapped on a bus in Kalaoya.
Army Commander Lasantha Rodrigo said India had extended critical support, calling its assistance “generous and timely,” adding that “one aircraft brought supplies and the other carried 80 specialised personnel.”
Widespread power outages continued for a third day, with nearly seven million customers affected after 35 percent of the national grid failed during the storm. Reservoir spills and rising river levels forced authorities to issue fresh evacuation alerts across several districts.
Global aid is starting to arrive. The US pledged USD 2 million for immediate relief, while the Maldives announced a contribution of USD 50,000 and 25,000 cases of tuna cans for displaced families.
