A 67-year-old man has died after being trapped under a collapsing earth embankment in Nawalapitiya, while flooding and additional structural failures have prompted the evacuation of dozens of families from the area.
A fatal accident in the Solankanda area of Nawalapitiya has claimed the life of a 67-year-old man after an earth embankment gave way and collapsed onto a shop structure. According to police, the victim sustained severe injuries in the incident and was transported to hospital, where he subsequently died from his wounds. His body has been transferred to Kuruduwatta Hospital in Nawalapitiya.
The disaster has extended beyond the initial collapse. Another embankment failure has blocked the Nawalapitiya-Dolosbage Road near the 2nd Mile Post, prompting the Disaster Management Centre to mobilise operations aimed at clearing debris and reopening the route. Simultaneously, the area has been affected by significant flooding as the Maskeli Oya overflowed its banks, forcing approximately 10 families to relocate to safer locations.
The flooding has also impacted broader sections of the district. Low-lying areas along the Mahaweli River, including Labuwalkotuwa and Kitulkote, have experienced inundation. Police reports indicate that residents from more than 20 households in these flood-affected zones have temporarily relocated to the homes of relatives as a precautionary measure. The combined effect of the embankment collapses and river flooding has created a significant displacement situation across multiple communities in the Nawalapitiya area.
