Heavy rains caused chaos across Colombo yesterday, leaving several areas under water. Speaking on the situation, Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar explained why the city struggled to cope with the deluge.
According to the Mayor, the city's drainage infrastructure was developed over the years to manage approximately 30mm of rain. However, yesterday's downpour hit an unexpected 129mm, completely overpowering the system.
Relief efforts and future plans
The Mayor noted that such intense rain falling in a short window created a tough challenge for the authorities. Officials are now coordinating closely to send out needed relief to impacted residents as fast as possible.
She also highlighted that Colombo needs major long-term infrastructure upgrades. To tackle the problem properly, plans spanning short-term, medium-term, and long-term actions have been formulated.
