2ND Lead (Updates)

Floods claim 14 lives in Batticaloa, 4 missing in Ampaa'rai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 January 2011, 12:10 GMT]
14 people have died so far in the floods in Batticaloa district according to Batticaloa District Secretariat. At least 10 persons have been reported missing in the district and 4 fishermen are missing in Ampaa'rai district. On Tuesday, a 17-year-old boy was electrocuted and a 19-year-old boy was seriously injured along Koayil Road in Onthaachchi-madam in Ka'luvaagnchik-kudi division in Batticaloa district when they touched a live electric wire lying on the ground after strong winds.

The injured was first admitted to Ka'luvaagnchik-kudi base hospital and later transferred to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital.

The districts of Ampaa'rai, Batticaloa and Trincomalee in the Eastern province have been experiencing torrential rain with strong winds since the second week of December.

Earlier eleven fishermen were reported missing, but seven were recovered alive later. The fishemen left for fishing from Poththuvil in Ampaa'rai district, according to complaints with the Poththuvil Police by their relatives. Police said search operation jointly with the Sri Lankan forces was in progress to locate the four missing fishermen.

The fishing community has expressed fear following the recovery of some fishing boats in damaged state along the coast of Poththuvil.

One person was reported missing in Vaakarai, three in Vaazhaich-cheanai, one in Chengkaladi, one Ma'nmunai North, one in Ka'luvaagnchik-kudi and three in Paddippazhai.

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