India offers help to Lanka to help landslide victims

New Delhi, Oct 30:

on Wednesday offered assistance to

to help hundreds of people affected by the landslide in Uva province of that country.

Indian High Commissioner Y K Sinha spoke to Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister G L Peiris and offered the assistance to deal with the landslide disaster which took place this morning.

Around six line houses of plantation workers collapsed in the disaster and Sri Lankan Army was already undertaking disaster relief. As per reports, over 200 persons have gone missing.

Plantation Estate houses and other buildings were destroyed in Koslanda, Haladamulla and Meeriyabadda. DMC spokesman Sarath Lal Kumara said that rescue operations were under way and a few bodies had also been recovered, Xinhua reported.

Officials said that 20 bodies had been recovered by noon Wednesday even as there was a warning of more landslides in the area.

Security Forces Headquarters (Central) Commander, Maj. Gen. Mano Perera said that the security forces were involved in a massive rescue operation.

PTI