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NAGAPATTINAM, India (AP) — On a sunny morning two decades ago, a young boy was immersed in a game of cricket on the beach when disaster struck. A powerful 9.1 magnitude earthquake erupted offshore, unleashing a catastrophic tsunami that impacted regions from Indonesia to India.
The life of Yusuf Ansari, now a 32-year-old motor rickshaw driver, was forever altered by that fateful day.
“In an instant, we witnessed a boat being thrown by the waves, followed by tumultuous dark water and a towering wave. Everything happened in a blink. There was panic everywhere; no one thought about their belongings or homes,” Ansari recounted, emphasizing the urgency of fleeing to higher ground.
This devastating tsunami on December 26, 2004, was a result of an underwater earthquake near Sumatra that claimed around 230,000 lives across a dozen countries, reaching as far as East Africa.
In remembrance of this tragedy, next Thursday, local fishing communities plan to hold vigils, which will include a moment of silence, rituals involving pouring milk into the sea, and placing flowers at memorial sites along the coast.
Jaya, a 44-year-old mother, reflects on how the tsunami changed her family’s life. Her husband, Varadarajan, had gone fishing, leaving her with their three children.
“I saw the boys playing by the shore, and then noticed a crowd gathering, staring at the waves. Initially, no one realized the gravity of the situation. The sea turned ominous and the waves began to swell alarmingly,” she described.
In response to the devastation, the Tamil Nadu state government initiated various repair and rehabilitation efforts with support from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. These initiatives included the construction of housing that provided essential services like electricity, sanitation, and improved infrastructure.
A memorial tower has also been erected in Velankanni, part of the Nagapattinam district, to honor the victims of the tsunami. This district is located approximately 320 kilometers (200 miles) south of Chennai, Tamil Nadu’s capital.
According to official reports, the tsunami resulted in the deaths of 10,749 individuals in India, with thousands left homeless; nearly 7,000 fatalities occurred in Tamil Nadu alone.
In the aftermath of the catastrophe, the Tamil Nadu government constructed sand embankments to shield the coastline. Yet, locals like fisherman Kuppi Ratnam express concern over their effectiveness. “The stones are no longer sturdy, and the sand keeps eroding. We have made requests to the government for repairs, but the situation remains unresolved,” he stated.
“Although some families received government-built homes, this was not a comprehensive solution. Many could not afford to rebuild, while others were too traumatized to return to the place that had caused them such immense loss,” he lamented.
Even after twenty years, the lingering effects of the tsunami and the earthquake remain a haunting reality for many in India.
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