Kumarapuram is about seven kilometres from the Kilinochchi town centre. The aerial bombardment on 10 October 2008 is part of a very long series of aerial bombardment of the densely populated Kilinochchi town centre and its surroundings during this period. It was a time when massive exodus of the people both residents and IDPs were taking place as a result of this. The bombing on this particular occasion killed a female school teacher, her ten year old daughter and another woman. The teacher’s husband, their son and five more civilians sustained serious injuries. The injured husband said after the tragedy,
“I am a local government employee of the Pachilaipalli AGA Division. We have three children. We displaced from our home town in Pachilaipalli in August 2006. We built a mud house in Kumarapuram in Kilinochchi and were living there since 2006. On the fatal day at 6.25am, my wife and I were cooking for the day prior to leaving for work. We heard the noise of the bombers. We took our three children and ran to the bunker. Three bombs fell around out home. One fell very close to our bunker. My wife died on the spot. My daughter was unconscious and later died in the hospital. My son and I received injuries and we both found it difficult to breathe immediately after the explosions. My hearing has also been affected by the noise and shock. We have displaced again and are living with relatives. We held the funeral for my wife and daughter at this relative’s house”.
Names of victims (name, age)
1. Arumainathan Chandrathevi, 54
2. Arumainathan Archika, 10
3. Manoharan Usha, 36
