Girl drowns in Verukal river in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 September 2010, 11:17 GMT]
Seven year-old Thiruna Mathushika of Ward No 7 Vaakarai in Batticaloa district drowned in the Verukal River Sunday morning. Her body was not recovered immediately. The search for her body continues in the river which is infested with crocodiles, sources in Batticaloa said.

Thousands of devotees from the districts of Trincomalee and Batticaloa had been traveling to Verukalampathi Chiththiravealaauthasuvami Koayil to participate in its annual festivals, which is located on the Trincomalee side of Verukal River which is the boundary of the two districts.

The water–cutting festival (Theertham) of the temple is scheduled to be held Monday.