Bad Weather Update: 4 Dead, 9 Missing

 The Badulla District Secretariat confirms that four individuals have lost their lives due to landslides that occurred in 6 locations within the Badulla District, caused by the prevailing adverse weather conditions.

Badulla District Secretary, Mr. Panduka Abeywardena, stated that approximately nine more individuals are missing amidst this disaster, and relief teams have continuously launched operations to find them.

The low-pressure area that was located to the southeast of Sri Lanka has now intensified into a depression, centered 210 kilometers southeast of Batticaloa.

The Department of Meteorology warns that this system is likely to further intensify into a deep depression within the next 12 hours and move northwestwards, leaning towards the north.

Under the influence of this weather system, very heavy rainfall exceeding 200 mm is expected in the North Central and Northwestern provinces, as well as in the Trincomalee District, with strong winds of about 60-70 kmph possible across the island.

The Department of Irrigation announces that due to heavy rainfall in catchment areas, there is a risk of high flood conditions in the low-lying areas around Deduru Oya and Kumbukkan Oya within the next few hours.

Additionally, water levels in the Malwathu Oya, Nilwala Ganga, Kelani Ganga, Badulu Oya, Mahaweli Ganga, Maha Oya, and Kala Oya basins are rising, and residents in the surrounding low-lying areas should remain vigilant regarding the risk of floods.

Amidst the prevailing adverse weather, authorities have taken steps to temporarily close the lower Kadugannawa section of the Colombo - Kandy main road until further notice.

The Railway Department states that train services on the Kelani Valley railway line have also been disrupted due to trees falling onto the tracks at two locations between Narahenpita and Baseline railway stations.