Water level of Kelani Ganga on the rise -- evacuation of families have begun. Those already dead ... close upon 100!

Water level of Kelani Ganga on the rise -- evacuation of families have begun. Those already dead ... close upon 100!

5.40 pm

Exactly as it happened an year ago their is a possibility of the phenomenon of floods recurring in the environs of Kelani Ganga this evening (26). The Colombo District Secretariat has officially made an announcement saying that people living close to Kelani Ganga should vacate their localities as soon as possible. Government Agent and Colombo District Secretary Mr. Sunil Kannangara has taken action to evacuate about 2000

families from Kelani Ganga low land area by 3 pm and had announced to the public living in Sithawaka, Homagama and Kaduwela in Colombo District and Kelaniya, Wattala, Biyagama in Gampaha District to leave such locations in and around those areas as soon as possible under the above circumstances.

The water level of Kelani Ganga is rising and the low lying areas gradually getting flooded in the process. As a consequence, areas such as Hanwella, Ranala and Kaluaggala by now are being flooded, it is reported. Authorities make a request from the public living in those areas to be vigilant as the flood level of those low-lying areas could rise further in the very near future. In this case police request motorists to use alternate routes instead of the low-level route.

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Official reports say that 81 individuals have been reported dead because of this hostile weather and that over 100 people are missing in the process. However, unofficial reports reveal that the toll of dead persons exceed 100. Main districts which have faced effects of this inclement weather conditions are Matara, Galle, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Hambantota, Gampaha and Colombo and the majority of those dead are from Ratnapura and Kalutara, it is understood.