Over 300 evacuated following landslide threat

Disna MUDALIGE

Three hundred and thirty two persons belonging to 81 families in the Kotabakma Grama Niladari Division in the Haldummulla Divisional Secretariat Division, were evacuated to Miriyabedda Tamil Central College following a landslide threat on Thursday, Badulla District Disaster Management Coordinating Unit Assistant Director G M L Udaya Kumara told the Daily News yesterday.

He said that the Badulla DMC in coordination with the District Secretariat and Grama Niladari officer is supplying cooked food to these families.

He said that a scientist at the National Building Research Organization has visited the area for further investigation. Kumara said that this area was identified in 2004 as unsafe and unsuitable for housing, but 63 families have been residing in this place.

He said that 23 new houses are being constructed at a safer location to relocate a section of these families. These families will be directed to the new location shortly. He also said that improved weather prevailed in the area yesterday.