Posted on: May 20, '08
THE OTHER SIDE OF SEA- TSUNAMI STRIKES- PART III
In the previous episode, I touched upon the beginnings of a massive-everrescue, relief and reconstruction operation in the after math of Tsunami 2004 disaster. Now on to more poignant details.
The under-sea earth quake near sumatra islands of
Indonesia tilted up the ocean floor by several metres producing
displacement energies in the scale of several atomic bombs. A massive sea surge or Tsunami waves began their journey from the epi centre of the quake. The waves started at a speed of 800 kms/hour and start with waves were only few feet high. As it neared the coastal shore line the speed reduced to 500 kms/hour and the waves gained height upto several metres -more than palm-tree high as the reduced speed translated into height of the waves. What the waves dis was to sedn the boats swirling
like match sticks, smashing them against dwellings and buildings on the shore. The buildings themselves took a hit and lay in shambles. More than a lakh people were rendered homeless and thousands of lifeless bodies were strewen around in the entire shore line and on streets close to the beach.
Those rendered homeless became REFUGEES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. Several volutary organisations(non governmental organisations-NGOs) from all parts of India and abroad converged on this small town distributing relief materials like clothe materials, food plates,blankets,utensils. Temporary accommodation was set up in marriage halls, school premises, colleges. I went round the town meeting people from several voluntary organisations requesting them not to hand over
the relief materials to the authorities. Instead I asked them to
bring cooking utensils and food materials into the temporary
acommodations and get it cooked there itself and serve it to the
starving brethren. My request was heeded and my brethren poor or rich came to eat full meals without any hitch or delay of administrative distribution. I also sat with them to taste for myself and test the quality of food they are being served. Outside acommodation, I also offered some food to select people from food stalls near by. I also slept along with them though in respect they gave me a seperate space for me to sleep to get a feel of their sufferings.There was a heart-moving experience a lady travelling all alone with her car dirver with cooked food for around 200 people from distant town ERODE seeing the plight of starving people on TV. Reaching here, she said," I was so moved by the scenes on TV that I came to offer whatever I can to feed the starving victims". My own efforts paled in comparison
with the lady"s.
Army was out on 27 th December 2004, the day
next to the disaster to undertake relief operations. For a change
political activists irrespective of their political affiliations joined
hands in retreiving the bodies lying all around. Sniffer dogs were
pressed into service to scent out the bodies that lay buried in debris. As there was no space to bury the countless bodies, they were mass buried in pits dug several metres deep and wide and shoving them in. Early decomposing chemicals were sprinkled before the pit was closed to ensure speedy decomposition and avoiding of infections all around. Velankanni the most famous pilgrimage spot and close to my town was a scene of such a mass burial.
Fishermen who take to water as fish were afraid to venture into sea for months. They lost all boats in their possession making it imposible to venture out into sea. Several voluntary organisations stepped in to feed the fishermen and victims
for months providing them with food. Temporary shelters with metal compartents were set up at various locations and those in temporary accommodations were shifted to them.
Permenant houses were built in thousands by several organisations including TATAs and muti-national affiliate volutary organisations. The construction of houses are
still on even after 4 years of the disaster as land for
construction had to be allotted by the Government. Facilities like
mini-desalination plants were set up to provide purified drinking
water to the tsunami affected.
Government for its part distributed 2 lakh rupees for each of the deceased victims.
Many dignitaries including Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,Bill Clinton and our one and only Abdul Kalam all visited this small nestling coastal town.
The reconstruction phase is still on. And I am moving away from this place on transfer with memories of the worst-ever disaster which killed more than 2 lakh people across 12 nations on a single day. More than 73 villages were affected in the vicinity. I toured many of them along with voluntary organisations and the gruesome tales of villagers escaping at the last miniute from the on-rushing waves only to see their dear ones who were not lucky being washed away into the sea.
Join me in offering condolences to the victims.
Bhararth selvan
Tags: dedicated to tsunami victims
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