Inclement weather claims four lives

COLOMBO (News1st): Four people have died and two people have been injured due to adverse weather prevailing across the island. According to the Disaster Management Centre, 546 houses have been partially damaged as well. Official figures show that 42,252 people of 11,074 families in 7 districts have been impacted due to the inclement weather. People in the districts of Kegalle, Colombo, Gampaha, Matara, Kalutara, Kurunegala and Galle have been adversely affected by extreme weather. An individual travelling on a decrepit portion of a road in Pattiyawila, Kelaniya died when he was caught in a flash flood. He was a 22-year-old resident of Maabima. Sixty houses in Seewaliwatta, Hanwella have been inundated following the overflowing of the Kelani River. The affected families have now been relocated to the Mayadunna College in Hanwella. The water level of the Kelani River at the Nagalagam Street water meter stood at 6 metres. The Colombo - Kandy new road was closed from the Siyambalape junction in Biyagama after the area was flooded. Multiple roads including the Baddegama - Agaliya road, and Baddegama- Dodamgoda road were inundated as a result of the Gin river overflowing. A portion of the Baddegama Old Town was also inundated by floods. Our correspondent reported that water levels in Baddegama had risen to 5 metres. Floods that affected the Gallandala and Thawalama areas in Hiniduma are now receding. The Bulathsinhala - Molkawa main road is currently inundated from the Paragoda area as a result of the Kukuleganga overflowing. Although water levels in the area are receding, movement along the road has been hampered. Flood levels in Malimbada, Kadduwa, Athuraliya, Akuressa and Maliduwa areas in Matara rose as a result of the water flowing from the Nilwala river flowing downwards. Our correspondent said low lying areas in the villages of Imbulgoda, Diyalape and Eramudugoda have been inundated to around 10 feet of water. Sri Lanka Army launched several relief operations in areas inundated due to adverse weather. Troops of the Sri Lanka Army 6th Artillery Regiment carried out a number of relief and rescue operations for the displaced people in the Gampaha area. The Air Force said that MA - 60 and Y - 12 aircraft as well as Beechcraft which are part of the Maritime Surveillance Force are on standby, should the need arise. The Air Force further said that aircraft have been prepared to provide essential items including food to distressed citizens by air. The water level of the Rajanganaya Reservoir has risen following the opening of the sluice gates of the Kala wewa. Two sluice gates of the Rajanganaya Reservoir have been opened by 2 feet to control the flow of water, which is releasing 1,272 cubic feet of water per second.