08th December 2019 16:45:20 Hours
Army troops in Kilinochchi with the assistance of other agencies were able to rescue thousand number of stranded and flood-affected civilians in the past 12 hours starting around 2.00 a.m. Friday morning (06 Dec 2019) after torrential heavy rains and storms, beginning days swept across the general areas of Shanthipuram, Araviyalnagar, Vasanthanagar, Wishwamadu, Dharmapuram, Raththinapuram, Koddikattayarkulam, Anavilandankulam,Oddarattukulam, Kumaraswamipuram, Bharathipuram, Karuwala Kandal, Kodadi Kallu ,Kanagarathnapuram and Kadduwankudi areas of the 57 , 65 and 66 Division of the Security Force Headquarters- Kilinochchi.
As rains began causing havoc with water levels swelling and spilling of tanks were fast, and also amid stormy winds, roads turned inundated with floods bringing transport to a standstill and submerging a number of houses in those areas to floods. troops quickly and timely responded while risking their life for, students who are sitting for GCE ordinary level exam. Some of those helpless civilians were seen atop hoods and other elevated places and structures when the troops reached them. In addition to civilians, affected animals, like dogs, cows and bulls, cats, etc were also directed by troops to safer areas and they too were provided with some food items.
Troops of the 57,65 and 66 Division on the directions of Major General G V Ravipriya WWV RWP ndu IG, Commander, Security Forces - Kilinochchi and under the close supervision of General Officer Commanders of respective Divisions, 57 Division began their rescue missions around 2.00 a.m on early Friday (6) morning amid heavy downpour with the support of the life-saving team of the nearby military detachment and sailors of the Navy and police in the Kilinochchi district in close proximity.
Troops evacuated flood affected men, women and children, stranded inside their own houses under floods and immediately carried them to safer locations with the support of boats. Some of the feeble and children had to be carried on shoulders as flood levels were fast swelling.
As of Friday (6) evening, 2160 people of 649 families have been located in safer locations and troops continue to provide them with cooked meals and immediate medical aids. Similarly, troops were compelled in networking with other agencies to provide assistance in effectively and highly committedly manner in any circumstances.
Those relief operations in the aftermath of the rains are still continuing under the close supervision of Major General G V Ravipriya WWV RWP ndu IG, Commander, Security Forces - Kilinochchi and respective GOCs, Brigade Commanders, commanding officers and soldiers.
