Three deaths reported in Nawalapitiya earthslip | Sunday Observer

Three deaths reported in Nawalapitiya earthslip

4 September, 2023

The Meteorology Department says showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Central and North-western Provinces while heavy showers about 100mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern Provinces.

Police said that a father of three named Wimal Jayasiri, a resident of Veralugashinna Nawalapitiya, died due to the collapse of an earth mound due to the prevailing bad weather. He fell victim to this while digging a foundation for a new embankment to be built in the house. The residents took him to Nawalapitiya District General Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Police said.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Eastern and Uva province during the evening or night. The Meteorology Department requested public to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Due to the current heavy rains, the water level in Maskeliya Oya and Keselgamu Oya has risen rapidly. The Directorate of Irrigation says that the water level of the Gin Ganga is rising with the further activation of the high fed areas of the Gin Ganga due to the ongoing torrential rains. Gin Ganga Irrigation Engineer Piumida Silva said that yesterday (3), the water level in the Baddegama water gauge had increased to 3.73 m and there is a risk of a minor flood situation in the Baddegama area. Due to this, low-lying farmlands and side roads in the areas such as Agaliya, Mulkada, Path Welivitiya, Bambarahikada and Navakkada were flooded on both sides of the Gin Ganga. Meanwhile, she further stated that the water level of the Thawalama water gauge has increased to 2.92 m.

Kalutara Disaster Management Center, Assistant Director Col.Aravinda Amarasinghe, said yesterday (3) that the Benthota river flooding the Aluthgama-Avittawa road has been submerged by nearly a foot of water. Due to the rain that fell in Galle district, sixteen (16) houses in four divisions of the Divisional Secretariat were partially damaged and fifty people were affected, Galle District Disaster Relief Center said. Fairly strong winds about 40-45 kmph can be expected at times in western slopes of the central hills, Western, North-western and North-central provinces.

Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organization says that due to the prevailing rainy weather, the landslide warnings issued for 04 districts of the island will continue to be valid.

Accordingly, landslide warnings have been issued for the districts of Galle, Kalutara, Kegalle and Ratnapura.

The National Building Research Organization has requested that the Bulathsinghala area of Kalutara district and Eheliyagoda, Kuruvita and Ratnapura areas of Ratnapura district be alert under warning level 02.

Also, landslide warning level 01 notices have been issued in Baddegama, Nagoda and Elpitiya areas of Galle district, Matugama, Palindanuvara, Ingiriya and Vallavita areas of Kalutara district, Deraniyagala, Bulathkohupitiya, Yatiyantota, Dehiowita and Ruwanwella areas of Kegalle district and Kalawana, Kiriella and Ayagama in the Ratnapura district.

The National Building Research Organization says that people in those areas should be careful.

Not only that, the Meteorological Department has issued a warning about strong winds and rough seas.Accordingly, it has been informed to be careful of the sea areas from Trincomalee to Pottuvil through Kankesanthurai, Mannar, Colombo, Galle and Hambantota.

The Meteorological Department has mentioned that the wind speed in those sea areas may increase up to 60-70 kmph from time to time.

In addition, it is also stated that the wind speed may increase to 50-60 kmph from time to time in the offshore areas from Puttalam to Colombo and Galle to Hambantota. The Meteorology Department requests the fishing and shipping community to be careful about sailing in those sea areas.

 

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