Children and women are among the injured in the attack

Two civilians were killed on the spot and the third person has succumbed to injuries after admitting to the hospital.

Another woman has died while being transported in to Valaichchenai hospital.

The civilians have taken refuge from the artillery fire in the compound when the shell attack happened.

Fleeing from violence

All the victims are believed to be those fled fighting in other areas in the east.

Dr. T Varatharajah of Vakarai hospital said children and women among the seriously injured.

We don't know where to go and what to do A refugee woman from Muttur in Vaharai

He said a request from ICRC to help transport victims was turned down as ICRC had no permission to travel to Vakarai.

Many civilians are seeking refuge in the hospital but no one is aware of any further move to safeguard them, Dr. Varatharajan added.

Medicine shortage

The hospital is facing a huge shortage of medicine and fuel to supply electricity.

There is no way to keep the remaining medicine as we have no fuel left even for tonight Dr. Varatharajah of Vakarai government hospital

"There is no way to keep the remaining medicine as we have no fuel left even for tonight," Dr. Varatharajah said.

Alagurasa Rajani, a refugee from Kattparichchan, Muttur, said she was preparing the lunch when the attack happened.

Mortars have fallen to hospital compound as she ran for safety to the hospital.

Military denies attack

"We don't know where to go, what to do," she said.

A Hindu priest in the area told BBC that the attacks came from Karandikulam, north west of the hospital.

Tamil Tigers accused Sri Lanka military of continued artillery fire on Vaharai since Monday noon.

But the Sri Lanka military denied deliberately targetting civilians.

Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told BBC Sandeshaya that the military only retaliated to LTTE attcks and did not launch attacks on hospital compound.