Flooding in the Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 December 1998, 22:02 GMT]
Sources in the Vanni said that there has been a heavy down pour of rain during the past few days in the Vanni. More than 100 families are now homeless and many irrigation reservoirs have now started to spill over.

A number of roads have also become impassable because of the floods, the sources went on to say.

The water level of Iranaimadu Tank, the largest irrigation reservoir in the Vanni, is rising fast and there is only about one foot level to spill over.

Irrigation officials have warned that the sluice doors of the tank will be opened to let out additional water when the water level rises to 30 feet. This will cause the main link road between the western and the eastern areas of the Vanni impassable.

Officials have recorded a rainfall of 45 mm in the Iranaimadu Tank area during the 24 hours ending on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile officials of the Vavunikulam Irrigation Division have banned the transport of heavy vehicles along the side of the Vavunikulam reservoir as the water level has rose to 22 feet and 9 inches. Officials have requested the urgent assistance of the public in stacking sand bags to prevent the tank from spilling over.