MONSTROUS MOUNDS MOWED DOWN INNOCENT LIVES

In the aftermath of Koslanda catastrophe surviving residents said yesterday that from 2005 the authorities had been warning them that the area was dangerous and they should move away. However the poor residents lamented though they were told to vacate the

Scores of estate line rooms were devastated along with 300 residents who lived in the Miriyabedda area in Koslanda, Haldummulla on Wednesday (29) morning by a massive landslide followed by torrential rains that prevailed for several days in the Uva Province. It was reported that about an area encompassing 60 acres had got buried by the landslide with seven line rooms, five estate cottages, two boutiques and two milk collecting centres.

As a result of this landslide, the houses in the vicinity had been buried up to a depth of 50 to 100 feet.

However, several schoolchildren who had left for schools in the early hours and were fortunate to be among the living, stood gazing at the tons of earth under which their beloved parents, brothers, sisters and relatives were mercilessly buried alive and will only linger in their thoughts.

By Wednesday evening, ten dead bodies had been recovered from the debris and almost all the residents who were in the line rooms feared buried.

A large number of displaced residents who had been living in the neighbouring houses were sent to the camps. It is reported that the Army had made an attempt to recover the dead bodies with the use of backhoes but found it difficult due to persistent rains and mist.