News
Respite from damaging downpours forecast
With the active state of the South West Monsoon, heavy rains accompanied by strong winds were received over the week, leaving a trail of destruction, but the situation is expected to improve by next week, the Meteorology Department said.
However cloudy skies, and windy and showery conditions are expected in some parts of the country.
The Disaster Management Centre described the serious damage brought on by the high winds and torrential rainfall in the North as being huge. As a result, more than 4,000 individuals from 1,214 families experienced hardships. There were no casualties, but nine were injured due to various weather related accidents, which resulted in 1,145 properties being partially damaged.
Gampaha District was the worst affected according to the disaster management center’s latest reports.
The Duty Meteorologist forecast showers in several places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle and Matara districts.
A few showers may occur in the North-Western province. Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in mainly Northern regions of the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the evening or at night.
Fairly strong winds of about (40-45) kmph can be expected at times in western slopes of the central hills, Northern and North-Central provinces, and in Puttalam, Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.
Due to the inclement weather, all Government schools within the Nuwara Eliya and Hatton education zones were closed for two days.
Under the direction of the Hatton educational zone, 150 schools operated.
Meanwhile, a disruption of train services on the Kelani valley was also caused due to fallen trees onto the railway track. The Railway Control Room said the repair work has been completed.
Sluice gates of many rivers were opened as a precaution in the face of possible floods. Accordingly Polgolla, Mahaweli, upper Kotmale were opened.
Trees collapsed in many locations around Colombo and the suburbs.
A part of a two-storey building collapsed during heavy winds at Sri Nandasara National school in Galle. No injuries were reported despite the students being at the premises.
The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued a landslide early warning for several Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the districts of (Level 1) Nuwara Eliya and Ambagamuwa.
It states that since the rainfall within the past 24 hours has exceeded 100mm, the residents of those areas are advised to be on alert to likely landslides, slope failures, rock falls, and cut failures.
S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, director (hydrology and disaster management in the Irrigation Department has said water levels of the main reservoirs are at a safe level amid the rains.
Bandarawela
Pic by Nayanananda Buwaneka
Hatton
Maskeliya
Pix by Sudath H.M.Hewa
Bulathkohupitiya
Pic by Ravindra Welagedara
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