7 September 2022 09:34 am Views - 307
By Shantha Chandrasiri, Ranjith Rajapakse, Shane Seneviratne, Priyani Mangalika, N. Arachchi, Gamini Bandara
Traffic on the Nuwara Eliya – Mipiliyana access road had come to a standstill for hours yesterday due to an earth slip at Black Pool area and the Road Development Authority was taking steps to clear the obstructions.
Asst. Director, Disaster Management Centre Ranjith Alahakoon warned the people to be cautious of any possible danger from heavy rains and gale force winds experienced at present in the Nuwara Eliya district.
He said three spill gates in Laxapana reservoir and one in Canyon reservoir were opened last morning to release excess water to the Mahaweli river and that two spill gates in Upper Kotmale reservoir automatically opened to release excess water to the Kotmalaoya river. He warned the people living in the low lying areas of the river to be cautious of any possible flood threat if inclement weather continued and other spill gates opened.
One of the occupants had died when a mound of earth rolled down to a house and a garden wall in Yalegama in Daulagala area during heavy rain. The deceased Duminda Prakash Sanjeewa was feeding fish in a tank when he was buried under the mound of earth and the debris of the garden wall.
The low lying areas of Kelani ganga and Puswelioya rivers had gone under water due to the overflow of the two rivers. Several factories, business establishments and residential houses in Samaregegama, Thembiliyagama, Liyanagegama had been affected. Malwana and Hanwella areas are also facing a flood threat.
Meanwhile eight spill gates in Deduruoya tank were opened last morning to release excess water to the Deduruoya river at a speed of 17,700cu.ft. per second.
Puttalam District Disaster Management officer warned the people living in the low lying areas to be cautious of any possible flood threat.
About five hundred families in the Kegalle District had been affected by heavy rain experienced at present.
Asst. Director, Disaster Management Centre Dhanushaka Amila said the worst affected were the people in Dehiowita and Ruwanwella Divisions. He said Narangala in Bulathkohupitiya division had been endangered with possible landslides and that a welfare centre was opened at the Narangala temple to provide shelter to the displaced. He said immediate steps were taken to provide urgent relief to the people in the affected areas.