Sri Lanka and Southern India Hit by Heavy Rains, at Least 34 Killed

By Benjamin Turner

Heavy rains on Sri Lanka’s coast and the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu have killed at least 34 people, destroying thousands of homes.

32 people in Sri Lanka and South India have died in recent days, mainly from drowning and landslides, officials said.

“Given the prevalence of Covid-19, the government has encouraged over a thousand families to move in with relatives to reduce the strain on government-run centers,” said Sudantha Ranasinghe, head of Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre.

​​​​More heavy rain is expected in Tamil Nadu and neighboring states.