Cyclone kills 3, affects over 23,000 in Sri Lanka

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) – Three people were killed and over 23,000 people affected in Sri Lanka by turbulent weather conditions caused by cyclone Mandous, which made landfall in India's southern state last week, officials said on Monday.

According to Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre (DMC), 23,628 people were affected in 16 out of total 25 districts in the Island nation.

Pradeep Kodippili, spokesman for DMC, told Anadolu Agency over the phone that the cyclone made landfall late Friday in India and caused an “indirect impact” in Sri Lanka.

“Because of the high winds, three people died in the last few days,” he said, adding that the impact has now ended and weather conditions are normal in the country.

The center on Monday said 25 people were injured and one person missing. It also said that over 6,200 houses in various parts of the country suffered damage as well.

In India, at least four people died after Cyclone Mandous made landfall in the town of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu state late Friday, which caused heavy rainfall.

Heavy rainfall was also witnessed in the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh, where rivers overflowed, roads were submerged and traffic was disrupted.

India's Meteorological Department warned in a statement on Monday that “isolated heavy rainfall activity” will likely continue over south peninsular India during the next 24 hours.

It advised fishermen “not to venture into southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea and along and off Kerala-Karnataka coast and Lakshadweep area on Dec. 12 and 13.”