| A landslide alert was given in most parts of the hill country yesterday after rains lashed several parts of the country during the weekend, officials said.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) chief Pradeep Kodippilli said some half a dozen landslides had already taken place in the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts and more rain was expected to hit these areas in the next 48 hours.
He said motorists and other road users should take extra precautions in those areas as roads could be cut off at any time. “All our sub stations have been alerted to monitor the situation on a round-the-clock basis,” Mr. Kodippilli said.
On Friday, the train service on the Kandy-Colombo sector was delayed for several hours after a huge boulder rolled on to the track at Balana.
High explosives were used to blast the boulder and clear the track. Mr. Kodippilli said the sluice gates at the Kalawewa, Rajanganaya and Inginimitiya reservoirs had already been opened to ease the rising water pressure. Meteorology Department Duty Officer Gayana Hendhawitharana urged the people to take extra precaution against lightning which could come with thunder showers across the country.
A woman was killed by lightening a few days ago. |
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