Muttur hospital closed down due to artillery fire

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 11:59 GMT]
Muttur district government hospital has been closed down as its maternity ward was hit by artillery fire, Wednesday afternoon. Medical officers, nurses, attendants and health workers fled from the hospital seeking safety, sources in Muttur said. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Navy stationed in Trincomalee base stepped up its artillery and mortar fire towards Muttur east villages, from 4 p.m, Wednesday. The Tigers also reported to have fired artillery shells towards the SLN base in Trincomalee.

A minor employee of the Muttur hospital was killed in his residence when an artillery shell hit his residence Wednesday morning. His name is Hithayathullah, hospital sources said.

Several patients warded in the hospital were also injured in the artillery fire, the sources said.

Civilian sources in Muttur told TamilNet that LTTE fighters who entered the town are seen moving around the town.