Mahaweli rises as heavy rain triggers flood, landslide fears

Heavy rainfall across the Central Highlands has triggered flood and landslide warnings, with the Mahaweli Ganga reaching spill level in Nawalapitiya and several roads and low-lying areas already affected.

The Kandy District Disaster Management Unit has urged residents living along the Mahaweli River in Nawalapitiya, Gampola, Gelioya and Peradeniya to remain on high alert as heavy rain continues on the western slopes of the Central Hills.

The Irrigation Department has warned that the Mahaweli Ganga, in the Nawalapitiya area, is nearing spill level. The river level at the Peradeniya Black Bridge, which is under repair, is also continuing to rise.

A senior official said the University of Peradeniya was taking precautionary measures in anticipation of a possible flood situation.

Meanwhile, five spill gates of the Polgolla Mahaweli Reservoir had also been opened yesterday (20) due to the heavy rainfall, Executive Engineer Thisara Bandara said.

Around 21,000 cubic feet of water per second is being released towards the Victoria Reservoir through the five gates.

Bandara warned that all spill gates may have to be opened if rainfall intensifies and urged communities downstream of the Polgolla Dam, on both sides of the river, to remain vigilant.

The threat has already translated into flooding and displacement in several areas.

Nearly 100 families have been displaced in the Pasbage Korale Divisional Secretariat area of Nawalapitiya after the Mahaweli River overflowed and inundated homes in low-lying areas, following heavy rainfall since yesterday (20), a Divisional Secretariat official said.

Kithulkote, Labuwelkotuwa and Jayasundara Ovita were among the areas affected.

The Irrigation Department has separately warned of a risk of major flooding in low-lying areas along the Mahaweli River in the Pasbage Korale area, urging residents and motorists to exercise extreme caution.

Meanwhile, roads have also been hit by the adverse weather.

The Road Development Authority (RDA) has closed the Poojapitiya–Medawela road until further notice after a section of the road at Madadeniya collapsed. The section had reportedly already been weakened during the Ditwah disaster and has now completely given way.

The RDA has closed the road from Poojapitiya town and advised motorists travelling towards Medawela to use alternative routes.

Traffic on the Hatton–Bogawantalawa–Maskeliya–Balangoda main road also came to a complete standstill yesterday after a landslide occurred near the Wanraraja Estate area in Dikoya at around 11 a.m.

Hatton Police officers and residents began clearing the earth from the road, while the local RDA office was informed to assist with the operation.

In another warning, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said a potentially dangerous situation had developed at Dabagolla Mountain in Yalagamuwa, Uvaparanagama.

Police said about 700 metres of the mountain had developed cracks measuring between 10 and 12 inches wide. In some locations, the ground had subsided to depths of seven to eight feet.

The DMC said the cracks had widened with the recent rainfall, while water flowing through them had begun loosening the soil and increasing the risk of a landslide.

Police said there were no houses or settlements around the affected mountain, which is located near a forest reserve. Several acres of pepper cultivation are, however, situated in the vicinity.

Meanwhile, heavy rain has also caused flooding in Bogawantalawa.

Several buildings in the low-lying section of Merys Estate National School have been inundated after the Keselgamu Oya, a major tributary feeding the Castlereigh Reservoir, overflowed.

A retaining wall above a house in the lower section of Kotiyagala Estate also collapsed amid the heavy rainfall, causing extensive damage to the house. Bogawantalawa Police said no one inside was injured.

Authorities have urged residents in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas to remain alert as further rainfall could worsen conditions, while motorists have been advised to avoid affected roads and use alternative routes where possible.