Tree fall cuts power in Talawakelle amid severe weather

By Ranjith Rajapaksa

Colombo, July 21 (Daily Mirror) - Talawakelle, July 21 (Daily Mirror) - A large tree fell onto a 33,000-watt high-voltage power line running from Hatton to Senclair in the Talawakelle area, causing extensive damage and widespread power outages, the Hatton Electricity Customer Service Center Electricity Superintendent Nimal Samarakoon said.

He said that the incident occurred on the night of July 20, amid heavy rains and strong winds battering the western slopes of the Central Hills. The severe weather not only caused the tree fall but has also significantly delayed efforts by repair crews to remove the tree and restore the damaged power infrastructure.

Samarakoon said the collapse of the high-voltage system has left several areas, including the Devon region and the Pathana Sripada Vidyapith educational institution, without electricity.

Authorities are working to resolve the situation as soon as weather conditions permit, but there is currently no confirmed timeline for the full restoration of power.