Prolonged dry weather and resulting severe drought is affecting more than 560 000 people in Sri Lanka, forcing authorities to start continual artificial rainmaking.
According to the Disaster Management Center, authorities have launched programmes to expedite supply of drinking water to more than 281 000 people already without drinking water as a result of salinity flowing into the Kalu Ganga.
State-run power company has imposed daily power cuts for the first time in more than two years due to low hydro-power output, officials said March 25.
In an indication of how severe the situation has become, a Power and Energy Ministry official said the government started trying to produce artificial rain with the help of Thailand’s Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, Reuters reported.
The Power and Energy Ministry said March 22 the Sri Lanka Air Force used a helicopter to spray chemicals on the clouds 2.4 km (8 000 feet) above the catchment areas of the Maussakelle Reservoir, Central Province, resulting in 45 minutes of rainfall.
"Observing the success of the pilot project which commenced today, Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake has instructed relevant authorities to take necessary measures to create artificial rains in the next few days until the dry weather exists in the country," the ministry.
Featured image credit: Lanka Mag
18 killed and over 100 injured as severe hailstorm hits Uganda
April 24, 2019
At least 18 people have been killed and over 100 injured as severe hailstorm hit Uganda's Buyende and Kamuli districts late April 22, 2019. The storm hit several villages, including Nakabembe, Kabugidho, Nfumagani, Kidera and Itamya, destroying homes and crops....
Vietnam breaks its all-time record high temperature
April 24, 2019
With 43.4 °C (110 °F) registered on April 20, 2019, Vietnam broke its all-time record high national temperature. The temperature was registered in the community of Huong Khe in Ha Tinh Province on Vietnam's north-central coastal region. Unusually hot...
1 000 homes damaged as strong storm sweeps through Chiang Mai, Thailand
April 24, 2019
Up to 1 000 homes have been damaged as severe storm accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds hit Thailands' Chiang Mai Province over the Easter weekend. Thai PBS said 10 districts were blacked out for several hours when the freak summer storm hit the region on...
Snow and hail damage crops, block multiple roads across Lebanon
April 24, 2019
Snow and hail hit parts of Lebanon on April 21, 2019, blocking multiple roads and damaging crops across the country. Cedars recorded 40 cm (15.7 inches), leaving farmers worried that fruit-bearing trees will be damaged if temperatures drop further, The Daily Star...
Severe dust storm hits Saudi Arabia and Iran
April 23, 2019
Large dust storm originating in parts of northern Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq is affecting the region and southwest Iran's Khuzestan, still recovering from massive floods. Authorities warn residents that dust particles have significantly increased air...
Register/become a supporter
Support us AD-FREE
Your support is crucial for our survival. It makes this project fully self-sustainable and keeps us independent and focused on the content we love to create and share.
Monthly subscription
Yearly subscription
You'll receive your ad-free account for 20x faster browsing experience, clean interface without any distractions, ability to post comments without prior editorial check, all our desktop and mobile applications (current and upcoming) ad-free and with the full set of features available, a direct line of communication and much more. See all options.
