Search for bodies ends

THE search and recovery work to retrieve the bodies of 11 people buried in a landslip at Sikola in Chimbu last month has been called off, with Gumine MP Lucas Dekena giving K200,000 for the haus krai.
Six children and their four mothers plus a pregnant woman were buried alive in a landslide on March 13 which also covered the Sikola section of the road.
Sikola disaster committee chairman Clement Bruno said the Kobilkane people of the Goreku tribe took one month trying to retrieve the bodies for a proper burial.
He thanked the Gumine administration for its quick response that saved the lives of the two men who are the fathers of the seven children and husbands of three women.
From the K200,000, K10,000 each was given to relatives of the 10 people, while K100,000 was given to the Kobilkane community.
Gumine electoral officer Joe Koma said an additional K100,000 would be given to the seven clans of Goreku.
Governor Noah Kool gave K90,000 in cash plus K20,000 worth of goods to the haus krai last month.