Heavy rains wreak havoc in central hills

By Ranjith Rajapakse and Prasad Rukmal 

Colombo, May 27 (Daily Mirror) - The inclement weather currently experienced in the western slopes of the central hills has caused havoc today causing a disastrous situation and obstructing civilian life.

Gale force winds and heavy rain resulted in the fall of trees and collapsing mounds of earth obstructing traffic on several main highways. Several huge trees have fallen across the Hatton–Colombo main highway near the Shannon Estate in Hatton during the early hours of this morning, obstructing traffic on the highway and causing inconvenience to the large crowds travelling to Colombo.

Hatton police have taken steps to operate traffic on a single lane after some of the trees were cut and removed. 

In a similar incident the Hatton–Bogawanthalawa road has been obstructed by fallen trees. Telecommunication posts and street lamp posts have also been damaged. A huge mango tree has fallen on the line houses in the Wanarajah Estate in Hatton causing extensive damage to three houses. Steps has been taken to provide shelter to the displaced families in safer locations.  

Meanwhile, gale force winds and fallen trees have caused damage to the main power transmission lines in Hatton, Norwood, Kotagala and Norton. A senior official of Hatton Consumer Services Centre said step are being taken to restore the power supply.

A tree has fallen on a church at Wewathenna in Bandarawela causing extensive damage to the building. However. No injuries have been reported.

Police request motorists to be cautious when driving along the  highways and the by-roads in these affected areas.