Many villages flooded as Thabbowa spill gates opened
The village of Thambapanni in Puttalam was submerged when all 20 spill gates of Thabbowa reservoir were opened.
The Divisional Secretary Karuwalagaswewa, Janaka Thushara Balasuriya said, around 65 families who were trapped in the flood waters were safely moved to places of shelter located at the Thabbowa temple and relief items were provided to those who were temporarily displaced.
Presently all routes to the Thambapanni village are impassable being inundated by flood water.
In an attempt to save 10 villages affected by the floods, the Udappuwa estuary has been widened to divert the waters.
Large numbers of people gathered to witness the widening of the estuary in an attempt to divert the waters.
State Minister of Disaster Management Palitha Range Bandara was among those present when the estuary was widened.
Mudalama Divisional Secretary A.M.C.M.Premasiri said 10 villages belonging to five grama niladhari divisions were under water and there was no sign of the waters receding.
He added the villagers originally opposed the decision to widen the estuary, but later understood it was the only means of diverting rising levels of water away from their villages.
Following a tradition in the area of sacrificing an animal prior to the widening of the estuary, a chicken was sacrificed at the Udappuwa Kali Kovil.
While torrential rains have proved a disaster in some parts of the country, farmers in the Puttalam district are overjoyed. Having almost given up hope since being hit by the long and prolonged drought, the rains came as a blessing.
Overjoyed paddy farmers in Puttalam, were seen enthusiastically preparing their paddy fields with hopes of a successful crop.
Farmers said six successive paddy harvests had been ruined because of the drought and following the monsoon rains and opening of the reservoir spill gates looked forward to commence working their paddy fields
“We lived for three years without sufficient rainfall. Over 2000 wewa’s ran dry due to the drought. The water levels of Thabbowa, Inginimitiya, Kottukachchiya, Kachimaduwa and Usmahawewa reservoirs remained very low.
We are extremely happy with the rains,” said a farmer with tears of joy in his eyes. Pix By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe