Five Districts In The North Devastated By Rains: Will The Navy Block Compensation?
Roads Inundated and Impassable
As a result of the showers received from Thursday evening to Saturday morning. streets are flooded and several thousands of families have had to take shelter in 12 refugee camps hosting 600 families. The road from Paranthan to Mullaitivu is impassable with three sections of road under as much as 3.5 feet of water.
In Viswamadu at the Manikkapillaiyar Temple, a cantor has disappeared having been carried away by the raging waters.
Kilinochchi has had 400 mm of rain. All reservoirs are overflowing – through Punnaineeraavi, Tharmapuram, Kandaavalai, Pannangkandiyai. Christmas Carol Services have been cancelled. All houses at the centre of the Aananthapuram town are flooded. Iranaimadu tank with a capacity of 36 feet depth has 38 feet of water, and has had all gates opened, adding to rains that fell directly on these unfortunate villages.
Extensive loss of livestock is reported as shown in the photographs from Mankulam.
In Mullaitivu water is being released from Muththaiyan Kulam, Vavunik Kulam and Udaiyaarkattuk Kulam, Two thousand four hundred families are affected.
In Mannar District 110 persons from 38 families are in shelters. Eleven fishing boats are damaged.
In Jaffna Peninsula several places are affected. Of note is that the 30 km stretch of road from Maruthang Kerni has been shut down. Likewise as a result of flooding in the Achchuveli, Thondamanaaru, Kopai and Vaatharawaththai areas, the flood gates at Thondamanaaru have been opened.
Livestock Lost in Mankulam
A fear of the refugees concerns the accuracy of official reporting. Following the last cyclone, the Gaja Cyclone of 16 Nov. 2018, GA Jaffna, N. Vethanayagan, reported that 978 houses were damaged. Going by regulations, he authorized 3 days of cooked food for each affected person and Rs 10,000 as first installment compensation for each house.