Irrigation tanks overflow, A9 repaired

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 December 2002, 15:53 GMT]
Transport on the A-9 highway was interrupted Wednesday morning as heavy rainfall worsened the conditions of the already damaged highway between Umaiyalpuram and the Chemical factory in Paranthan. The Tamil Eelam Administrative Service, The Tamil Eelam Police Service and the Tamil Eelam Traffic Police jointly repaired the road and transport was restored to normal by Wednesday night, the Voice of Tigers radio said in its news broadcast.

The radio said that the Muhamalai army checkpoint remained open at night to allow traffic.

Passengers and drivers complain, however, that they still face severes difficulties in their travel as the highway has been severely damaged at many points between Elephant Pass and Paranthan.

As the rain receded in the Vanni Thursday morning, officials said that nearly 700 homes are submerged in floods and many families who resettled in their homes following the ceasefire agreement are being affected again. They have sought refuge in safer places, along with the cattle and livestock they raised as part of their rehabilitation plan. As a result, there is a danger of diseases spreading, the officials said.

Meanwhile, in the Mullaitivu district, 5 big irrigation tanks are overflowing, and many roads are submerged in water, causing disruption of transport services, said the government agent for Mullaitivu, Ms. Imelda Sukumar.

In the Thunukkai Assistant Government Agent division, 132 families have sought refuge in a school, said the GA. She added that she has sought the assistance of the Department of Social Services. Because the area has been cut off from Puthukkudiyiruppu where the secretariat is located, the GA said she is unable to gather information from other AGA divisions and that heavy rainfall may destroy paddy cultivation in the area.