5 dead, thousands displaced due to floods in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 November 2008, 11:57 GMT]
Heavy monsoonal rains and resulting floods claimed five lives in Jaffna peninsula while 118,273 persons belonging to 32,026 families have been displaced, according to Jaffna Secretariat statistics, civil sources in Jaffna said. Many persons are admitted to hospitals due to injuries sustained by collapsed roofs and falling trees. While rains have subsided, the electricity supply, transport services and telecommunication remain affected. Billions of rupees worth properties and cultivation have been damaged and destroyed in the past four days.

In I'lavaalai, Balakrishnan Visuvalingam, 28, drowned while Arumaithurai Kumaran, 19, from Aanaikkoaddai, Ms. Rasalingam Manickam, 62, a resident of Madduvil, Visuvalingam Balakrishnan, 41, from Pa'n'naakam and Thavaraja Thenmoli, 26, of Changkuveali in Valikaamam have died due to rain related incidents, information released by Jaffna Secretariat officials said.

The statistics of the persons admitted with injuries in hospital is not available.

The displaced persons are sheltered in relatives' houses, schools and churches. Though cooked meals are said to be supplied to the refugees the relief food supply has not officially reached some of them, local residents said.

Transport service in many parts of the peninsula remains suspended where as the electricity supply is completely disrupted while telecommunication services are severely affected.

Sri Lanka Electricity Board (SLEB) and Sri Lanka Tele Communication (SLTC) officials in Jaffna said that it would take at least a week for their services to return to normalcy.

Meanwhile, several acres of plantain trees have beendestroyed by the intermittent gales and rains. Paddy cultivation too has been severely affected.

Jaffna Government Agent (GA) has called for a detailed report of the damages caused to the cultivators.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) commander, Major. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri held a meeting with Jaffna GA and his officials in Palaali Thursday evening, Jaffna Secretariat sources said. The Commander directed the GA to take relief measures to meet the situation in the peninsula, the GA said.

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