MULLAITTIVU: THE ENTIRE north of MULLAITTIVU, adjacent to the NANTHIKADAL lagoon plunged into a human catastrophe of unprecedented nature in the past 6-7 hours as thousands of entrapped civilians in the “New Safety Zone” (NFZ) defying LTTE threats and diktats began swarming into the cleared area of WADDUVAKAL en masse. 

Many forcibly detained civilians in the ‘NFZ’ sticking themselves to the whatever alternative means available to them at hand risked their lives and waded the lagoon with the help of inflated tyre tubes, rafts, makeshift boats, Theppam (crafts) and swinging ropes, etc. despite rains of LTTE bullets that were directed towards them from LTTE-held areas. 

59 Division troops commanded by Brigadier PRASANNA SILVA, well-conceived of the magnitude of explosion of the besieged masses from their end, threw out long ropes to the other end of the LTTE-destroyed WADDUVAKAL bridge across the lagoon enabling the escapees to catch hold of the ropes, through which they could cross the waters without facing any risk for their lives. 

As the troops jumped into action in order to receive those thousands of escapees, Tiger terrorists in the opposite directions went on firing volleys of bullets using sniper and 12.7 automatic guns.

However, the troops sustained their humanitarian rescue operation amidst rains of enemy bullets.

As this report was filed, four escapees had lost their lives and a large number of civilians had received injuries.

Early reports said that at least over three thousand civilians have found their way out into the cleared area by Thursday (14) evening.

The world’s biggest rescue operation took this dramatic turn just twenty four hours after the 53, 58 and 59 Division troops made strides into the ‘NSZ’ overrunning the last LTTE earth bund in WADDUVAKAL area late Tuesday (12) evening.

More and more entrapped civilians are expected to find their way into the cleared areas as time goes on, according to ground troops.