Flash flood victims return home

by P.Krishnaswamy

A majority of the 70 families that were evacuated last week from landslide-prone areas in Maskeliya and Upcot in the Ambagamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha division, following torrential rains and flash floods, have returned to their homes since no threats of landslides are now being predicted, Nuwara Eliya Government Agent D.P.G.Kumarasiri told the Sunday Observer.

River bank sand which got washed off and heaped up at several places in Upcot obstructing the flow of flood water have been cleared using bulldozers, the GA said. Of the 70 families consisting of 239 persons, a small number is still continuing to stay in temples and schools until stagnated flood water surrounding their places of residence is cleared , he said.

The District Secretariat fixed a new rain measuring instrument at the top of Mount Pidurutalagala which would immediately transmit information to the District Secretariat on the intensity of rainfall enabling them to take precautionary measures unlike the one already there which directly transmits information to the Meteorological Department in Colombo resulting in delayed information to the District Secretariat, the GA said.

The Distirict Secretariat held a series of meetings participated by all relevant Government authorities on disaster mitigation programs, the GA said.