Several units of the Colombo National Hospital, including the Accident Service, were reportedly inundated following heavy rainfall, with the incident allegedly linked to the Colombo Municipal Council's failure to properly clean and maintain the Norris Canal.

Heavy rainfall experienced in areas around Colombo last evening (06) resulted in the flooding of several low-lying areas across the city.

Several sections of the Colombo National Hospital, including patient wards, the Accident Service, the Outpatient Department (OPD), the Radiology Department and operating theatres, were inundated by floodwater.

It was also reported that several elevators in the Accident Service became inoperational due to the flooding.

As a result, hospital staff were forced to make considerable efforts to transfer patients to other wards.

Reports further indicate that the situation was exacerbated by unauthorised constructions along both banks of the Norris Canal, as well as the improper disposal of waste into the canal by business establishments in the area.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall also severely disrupted traffic on several major roads in Colombo due to street flooding.

Roads in areas surrounding Maradana, Borella and Bambalapitiya were inundated, resulting in heavy traffic congestion.

The Department of Meteorology stated that 129 millimetres of rainfall had been recorded in Colombo within a few hours last evening.