A S M JAVID
COLOMBO – Strong winds and rains have caused havoc in the city of Colombo after midnight on Saturday early morning on July 10.
Trees fell down blocking the roads, temporary roof tops were blown off and the some residents spent sleepless night due to strong howling wind that lashed the city.
Significant rainfall exceeding 150mm in upstream and middle catchment areas were reported on Saturday morning. The rains rose the water levels of Kelani, Kalu, Gin and Nilwala Rivers and thereby could cause minor flood threat in those areas around the river basins, the Irrigation Department said.
Accordingly, low-lying areas of the Kelani River valley along Dehiovita, Ruwanwella, Seethawaka, Dompe, Kaduwela, Biyagama, Kolonnawa and Wattala Divisional Secretariat Divisions may face possible minor flooding within the next 24 hours.
Minor flood situation in the low-lying areas of the Kalu Ganga valley along Ratnapura, Kuruvita, Kiriella, Ayagama and Elapatha Divisional Secretariat Divisions.
The residents who live adjacent to those vulnerable areas are requested to be on high alert and also the motorists who drive their vehicles through those flooding areas.
Disaster Management Authorities have requested people to take adequate preventive measures to minimise dangers during this extreme weather situation.
Meanwhile, Meteorology Department in its forecast released on Saturday, July 10 said
showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa, North-Western and Southern provinces. Heavy showers about 100 mm can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa province and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts.
A few showers will occur at Northern Province.
Strong gusty winds up to 60 kmph are likely at times over western slope of the Central hills and gusty winds up to 50 kmph at times are likely in Northern, North-Central, North-Western, Western and Southern provinces, Trincomalee district, the forecast concluded.
