Six Indians Lost

In Flooded

Viti Levu River

FLOODS swept large areas of the western half of Viti Levu on March 8, when the main high ways were cut at many points and Nadi Airport was out of action for a time.

Nadi township, where the flood was the worst for 23 years, was isolated. Shops and the new police quarters were swamped and crops in the district suffered badly.

The flood area stretched from Rakiraki, in the north-east of the island, to Korotogo, on the south coast. At Ba the traffic bridge was nearly 3 ft under water.

More flooding occurred on March 20, when four Indian men, a woman and a child were drowned.

The six victims were travelling from Tavua to Suva when their taxi fell from the Lomawai bridge, on the Queen’s Road, into the swollen river. A seventh passenger, the wife of one of the men drowned, was rescued by a Fijian ex-serviceman.

Those killed were the driver of the car, Mr. Sahai Butru, Mr.

Munsami Naidu and his son, Mr.

Hanumant Naidu, his daughter-in law Gangana, his granddaughter Dementi, and Mr. Desga.

Mr. Desga’s wife, Parbati, was rescued by Filimone Narube, a veteran of the Solomons campaign.

He dived into the river, dragged the woman from the car, brought her ashore and successfully applied artificial respiration.