Water levels rising due to heavy showers

Colombo (News 1st) - Landslide warnings were issued for the districts of Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara and Nuwara Eliya as a result of the heavy rainfall being experienced in the areas. Assistant Director of the Disaster Management Centre Pradeep Kodippilli stated that 88 people from Soranatota in Badulla were evacuated due to the risk of falling rocks. The Department of Irrigation has requested locals living on the low-lying banks of the Attanagalu Oya and the Kalu Ganga to remain vigilant as a result of rising water levels. The Irrigation Department stated that as a result of heavy rainfall experienced the water levels of the rivers are gradually rising. The department added that the water gauges in Dunumale, Ratnapura, and Milla-Kanda reached the level of exercising caution as of 09 a.m today (September 16). In addition, Helton Estate in the Nurawa Eliya District experienced the highest rainfall of 192mm during the past 24 hours. The Meteorology Department noted that Maha-yaya Estate in Gampaha received a rainfall of 145 mm and Hal-Wathura Estate in Kalutara experienced rainfall of 141 mm. Many areas including Kegalle, Colombo, and Ratnapura received rainfall exceeding 100 MM during the past 24 hours. The Meteorology Department forecasts, showers or thundershowers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Central, Northern and North-Western provinces and very heavy rainfall of above 150 mm are likely at some places in these areas. The Disaster Management Centre this morning issued landslide warnings for the Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara and Nuwara Eliya District as a result of the heavy rainfall being experienced across many areas. Furthermore, the general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning. One spill gate of the Kukule-Ganga reservoir was opened as a result of heavy rainfall. In addition, several areas were inundated after the Keselgamuwa Oya exceeded spill level in Bogowanthalawa.