Reservoirs swell and spill over

• Castlereagh and Maussakelle reservoirs had reached spillover level

By Ranjith Rajapakse, Sajeewa Kottage and Sanath Gamage   

All eight spill gates in the Deduru Oya reservoir were  opened again when the reservoir reached spill level due to heavy  rainfall. Irrigation Engineer In Charge Sampath Samarajeewa said water was being released to Deduru Oya at a speed of 17,000 cubic ft. per second.  

Kurunegala District Deputy Director of Disaster Management  Viraj Dissanayaka said steps was taken to warn the people living in the  low-lying areas of the river to be cautious of any possible flood threat  if the rain persisted.   
Meanwhile, the bridge over Hakwatunaoya, a tributary  of Deduru Oya, had caved in due to the velocity of floods, bringing  traffic on Ratmale- Hiripitiya Road to a standstill. This resulted  in the closure of Maho-Nagollagama-Hiripitiya Road from either end.   

Police have advised drivers to use alternative routes.   

 Castlereagh and Maussakelle hydropower reservoirs had  swelled and reached spillover level by last morning due to the  incessant rain experienced in the catchments for the last several days.  Engineers in Charge said Castlereagh reservoir stood six inches below  the spillover level and Maussakelle reservoir three feet below. They  said Wimalasurendra reservoir was already spilling over.  

Police said the roads in several areas in the upcountry had  gone under water causing obstructions to traffic due to the heavy rain  experienced in the western slopes of the central hills at present.

   
Meanwhile Maskeliya – Nallathanniya main highway had been  obstructed by huge rocks that rolled down the hill near Mohini Ella and  traffic was operating a single lane. National Building Research  Organisation had warned the drivers to be cautious when passing through  the endangered area. Several officers have been on duty round the clock  to warn the drivers of any possible danger.   

The people living in the low-lying areas of Kirindi Oya  valley had been warned to be cautious of possible danger of floods if  the spill gates in Lunugamwehera reservoir were opened.

Tissamaharama Irrigation Engineer K.H.N. Sahan Kumara said it  was quite possible that the spill gates would be opened today as the  reservoir that swelled was fast reaching spill-over level.   

He pointed out that the people living in the low-lying  areas of Kirindi Oya  including Magama, Welipothewela, Bundala,  Siriyagama, Molakepupathana, Ikkpallama would face a flood threat if the  water was released into the river.        

• The people living in the low-lying areas of Kirindi Oya  valley had been warned to be cautious of possible danger of floods if  the spill gates in Lunugamwehera reservoir were opened