Torrential rains cause havoc in many districts

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Torrential rains have caused havoc in the Western, Central, Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces during past weeks deluge with several roads getting inundated and damage caused to public and private property, the Police Media Spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody told the Sunday Observer.

Meanwhile a tragic incident was reported at Danwela in the Kegalle district when a mother and her child was killed when their house was buried owing to an earthslip.

The Galapitamada road has become impassable due to being submerged.

Around 30 houses in the Pindeniya area were also damaged due to heavy rain. An elderly woman in the Warakapola area was killed when her house was dislodged and swept in to a stream by the flood waters. The woman's body was found in the stream.

In the Akuressa district several roads were reported to be submerged.

In the Colombo district several roads in the Nugegoda, Navagamuwa, Ihala Bomiriya areas were also submerged. Around 20 houses have been damaged in the Keragala area. In Seewaliwatte Hanwella around 25 houses were damaged.

Meanwhile the Hanwella-Kirindiwela road in Pugoda is also submerged. The Dompe-Malwana road is also reported to be under water.

An earthslip was reported on the Hatton-Diyagala, Ginigathhena road where a heap of earth had fallen on the road. Steps are under way to remove the blocked passage. A three-wheeler was damaged when a house was buried due to a landslide. The 13-mile post on the Biyagama-Malwana road is submerged.

In the Yakkkalamulla, area in the Galle district earth had fallen on a house destroying it completely. However no injuries have been caused to the inmates. The Galle-Nagoda road is two feet under water and the Hiniduma and Neluwa road is three feet under water due to the deluge.