Pannala Tragedy: 11 Elderly Drown as Floodwaters Engulf Care Home

 As an unfortunate consequence of the adverse weather conditions affecting the entire island, eleven residents of an elderly care home located in the Nalawalana area, within the Pannala Police Division, have lost their lives due to the facility being submerged by floodwaters.

The Police Media Division confirms that rescue teams have managed to save fourteen other individuals from the affected elderly care home due to this sudden flood situation.

This elderly care home, located in the Welcome Village area of Maakandura, Pannala, had twenty-five individuals present when it was engulfed by floodwaters. While some were rescued, it is reported that the rapid rise in water levels prevented the rescue of the remaining individuals. With the Ma Oya overflowing, several areas including Giriulla and Maakandura have been submerged, and residents state that a large number of people in the villages are trapped inside their homes and on rooftops.

It is also reported that due to some delay in the arrival of relief teams, some individuals used private boats to rescue those affected, and Pannala Police are conducting further investigations into this tragedy.