The bodies of four school students, the tractor driver, and another individual have been recovered following a tragic accident in the Karaitivu on 26 November. The incident occurred when a tractor carrying students was swept away by floodwaters while travelling from Ninthavur to Sammanthurai.

The Disaster Management Center confirmed that two students, aged between 12 and 16, are still missing. The victims were returning home from a Madrasa school in Ninthavur when the vehicle was swept away near the bridge close to the Karaitivu bus stand.

In a surprising development, the tractor driver’s assistant, initially reported as drowned, presented himself at the Karaitivu Police station this morning. The Police have arrested him on charges of endangering lives by transporting people for money in a tractor despite warnings from security forces about the dangerous flood situation.