Eight sluice gates of Deduru Oya opened

A significant rainfall, mostly in the upstream catchment areas of Deduru Oya Basin from yesterday forced the officials to open eight spill gates, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Deputy Director Pradeep Kodippili said.

He said the Deduru Oya reservoir, which is maintained by the Irrigation Department, is spilling with a discharge rate of 27,800 cubic feet per second currently. 

Because of the continual rainfall, the spilling discharge will be increased, he said. 

By analyzing this situation, there is a possibility of a flood situation in low-lying areas of the Deduru Oya valley situated in Wariyapola, Nikaweratiya, Mahawa, Kobeigane, Bingiriya, Pallama, Chilaw, Arachchikattuwa, and Rasnayakapura D/S Divisions.

The residents have been asked to be vigilant on this as well as motorists who drive through those areas, the Disaster Management Authorities warned. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)