ster Management Centre, 25 of the fatalities were reported in the central tea-growing districts of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, about 300km east of Colombo. At least 21 people remain missing, while 10 others are injured as rescue teams continue to battle rising floodwaters and unstable terrain. The severe weather, which began last week, intensified over the weekend, flooding homes, fields, and critical transport routes. Overflowing rivers and reservoirs forced the closure of several key provincial roads, leaving many communities cut off. Train services in the hill country have also been suspended after rocks, mud, and fallen trees buried sections of track. Television footage showed workers clearing debris as waterlogged rail lines became submerged in some areas. Dramatic rescue footage captured an air force helicopter lifting three people from the roof of a submerged home. Navy and police teams deployed boats to reach stranded residents, while near the eastern town of Ampara, a car swept away by floodwaters resulted in the deaths of three passengers. This week’s disaster marks Sri Lanka’s deadliest bout of extreme weather since June last year, when 26 people were killed. Heavy rainfall in December also claimed 17 lives through flooding and landslides. The worst flood event in recent history struck in June 2003, killing 254 people. Sri Lanka relies heavily on monsoon rains for agriculture and hydropower, but climate experts warn that extreme weather events — including severe flooding — are becoming increasingly frequent as the global climate crisis accelerates.