Three dead bodies including one of a child, have been taken to Chilaavatturai hospital in the LTTE area of Mannar and three more injured civilians have reached the hospital.

Two ambulances sent from Mannar hospital for transporting the wounded were blocked at Chirukkandal SLA camp.

It took more than 6 hours to transport the wounded persons to Mannaar hospital through a separate route via Achchangkulam, medical sources said.

The injured included three children. Two of the wounded, admitted at Mannaar hospital, were identified as Barathy Harishchandran, 29, with severe injuries to her leg, and 10-year-old Balamayooran Sebastiampillai. Four wounded were admitted at Murungkan hospital.

Meanwhile, military sources in Colombo said a soldier of SLA was killed in the offensive on Saturday morning.

According to the military statement, the operation in Chilavaththurai was a “humanitarin operation to liberate civilians from LTTE clutches".

Hundreds of civilians have fled towards Arippu church seeking safety.