Sri Lanka Cyclone: Death Toll Rises to 71 as Foreign Aid Reaches

PM Modi had condoled the deaths and said that India stands “resolutely to help the people of Sri Lanka.”

• At least 71 people were killed and 127 others remained missing in floods and landslides triggered by the heavy rains in Sri Lanka, as offers of assistance for thousands of people including from India poured in.
  
  
• INS Sutlej, a survey vessel, sailed for Colombo from Southern Naval Command in Kochi.Another ship, INS Sunayna, a Naval offshore patrol vessel, will be leaving soon with more relief material.
  
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• Some 375,604 people remain displaced in 22 districts in Sri Lanka. Nearly, 300,000 people have been staying in about 500 state-run relief centres.
  
  Australian government is to contribute 500,000 dollars through UNICEF. Nepal has announced to donate USD 100,000. The US government offered a 3-year USD 1 million programme to assist with safe drinking water.
  
  
• Heavy rains have been caused by Cyclone Roanu in the island nation. The cyclone has also put coastal states in India on high alert. The district of Kegalle, about 100 kilometres northeast of Colombo, has been the worst hit, with the toll from two separate landslides rising to 39.
  

(With inputs from IANS and PTI.)