Earth slip at Kabaragala estate Sixty houses destroyed, three critically injured

• A heavy inflow of water through the estate had resulted in the earth slip 

By Prasad Rukmal,Prasanna Pathmasiri and Saman Palitha 

  At least Sixty houses had been destroyed and 220 people displayed due to an earth slip at Kabaragala Estate in Poonagala in Bandarawela on Sunday night (19). Poonagala Divisional Hospital and a business establishment were among other affected buildings.

 Asst. Director, Badulla District Disaster Management Centre E.M.L.Udayakumara said several individuals, three of them being critically injured were admitted to Koslanda Hospital. He said Bandarawela and Liyangahawela Police and the army from Diyatalawa had evacuated the victims from the mounds of earth and provided them urgent relief with the help of the relief officers and the residents of the area.  He said a heavy inflow of water through the estate had resulted in the earthslip at about 9pm. Haldumulla Divisional Secretary said the displaced were provided temporary shelter in Poonagala Tamil Maha Vidyalaya. Meanwhile, Minister Jeevan Thondaman who visited the scene to look into the needs of the affected families and instructed the officials on urgent relief.