Heavy rain across the island hampers lives

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Met Department stated that the districts of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Vavuniya will receive rainfall between 150 to 200mm. Rainfall between 100 and 150mm could be experienced in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces and the Batticaloa, Ampara, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Puttalam, and Mannar Districts. Anuradhapura With the opening of 22 sluice gates of the Rajanganaya reservoir, the Kanuwa 10 ela village in the Rajanganaya 5 region was flooded since last night. Although certain families residing in the village had evacuated to safe locations, 250 people from 90 families remained trapped in the village since this afternoon. According to our correspondent, the villagers had moved to higher grounds today. Locals stated that they face this issue every year and the divisional secretariat does not look into these issues. The Navy conducted an operation last night to rescue 20 people stuck in their houses in the Hurigaswewa village. Their village was flooded after the spill gates of the Kalawewa were opened. The rescue operation lasted for about 2 hours. The rescued residents are currently being sheltered at the Meegallewa community hall in Hurigaswewa. The road from Galnewa to Eppawela was flooded in Amunugama Halmillewa after the Kala Oya overflowed. According to our correspondent, many houses, as well as farmlands, have been inundated. The Kalawewa is receiving 16,000 cubic feet of water per second from the catchments areas in Ibbankatuwa and Dambulu Oya and the Kala Oya is also receiving 24,000 cubic feet of water per second from the Kala Oya. Puttalam The Puttalam District has been the worst-hit region by the inclement weather conditions. 6218 people from 1777 families have been affected in the Puttalam District. Jayabima in Chilaw and a number of other surrounding regions have been flooded after the Deduru Oya overflowed. The Puttalam Anuradhapura main road was inundated from last morning till this evening. Polonnaruwa 2731 people from 776 families in the Polonnaruwa District have been affected by the inclement weather. All 10 spill gates of the Parakarama Samudra remain open and 1900 cubic feet of water is being released through it per second. The historic Somawathiya sacred site was flooded after the Mahaweli river overflowed. Our correspondent stated that the Chaithiya Maluwa is 3 feet underwater while the surrounding region is flooded by about 10 feet of water. A thick layer of mist covered the Polonnaruwa Bakamuna road across Aththanakadawala. A health camp was organized at the Al Aksa Vidyalaya in Gallella, Polonnaruwa, for 35 families affected by the heavy rains this morning. 6 spill gates of the Weheragala reservoir built across the Manik Ganga have been opened by 3 feet each. Badulla The Dunhinda entry road which was closed down for the past two days due to heavy rains in the Badulla District was reopened today. Our correspondent said that the road was closed down due to the risks of landslides and falling trees. Landslides have occurred in certain areas between Bibila and Lunugala along the Bibile-Badulla main road. Several houses have also been damaged due to the overflowing of the Gal-oya in Bibile. Meanwhile, 13 teams from the Navy have been deployed for relief operations in areas affected by the floods. The Navy stated that 15 small vessels have also been deployed. These teams have been deployed as per the advice of the Navy Commander, to areas including Nawagaththegama, Saaliyawewa, Eluwankulama, Polonnaruwa, Punani, Kataragama. and Paanama. The main road between Passara and Lunugala has been closed down indefinitely due to the risk of landslides in the Hopton estate area along the Badulla-Batticaloa A5 road between Lunugala and Millabedda. The Assistant Director of the Disaster Management Centre for the Badulla DIstrict Udaya Kumara requested motorists to use alternate routes. Meanwhile, the Sellakatharagama Gana Devi Kovil and surrounding villages have been flooded after heavy rains battered Kataragama during the past few days. Murukkantheev and Saarawali areas of the Kiran Divisional Secretariat Division in Batticaloa were inundated last night. Sri Lanka Navy rescued civilians by boat; 435 persons belonging to 3 divisional secretariats have been relocated at Kinnai Adi Saraswathi Vidyalaya. Meanwhile, Sitthaandi and many other areas in the Chenkaladi Divisional Secretariat area are still inundated. According to our correspondent, 1072 people from 327 families have been temporarily relocated to Sitthaandi Central College. Due to heavy rains, many tanks in the Batticaloa district have exceeded the spill level. The bunds of the Maawadi Odai reservoir has become unsafe and the security forces and villagers have worked together by piling sandbags to strengthen the bund. Meanwhile, the highest rainfall during the 24 hours that ended at 8:00 am today was reported from the Eastern Province. The Disaster Management Center states that 13 districts have been affected by heavy rains and landslides. 51,146 people of 14,963 families have been affected. Assistant Director of the Disaster Management Center, Pradeep Kodippili said 16,385 people were housed in 126 safe shelters. The affected districts are Badulla, Monaragala, Batticaloa, Ampara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Hambantota, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Kegalle, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa.