Tsunami victims relive painful memories of tragedy

Chennai, Dec 26 (PTI) It has been six years since tsunami
struck the Tamil Nadu coast, leaving more than 8,000 people
dead, injuring thousands and rendering many homeless but the
memories of the horrid day still bring tears in the eyes of
the bereaved families.
The 2004 tsunami was triggered by a 9.3 magnitude
earthquake, off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, causing one
of the country's biggest post-independence natural calamities.
In Nagapattinam, the worst-hit in southern Indian state
Tamil Nadu, where giant waves claimed over 6,000 lives and
rendered about a lakh homeless in the district, painful
memories of the tsunami still linger, but people have moved
on.
During the past six years, Government, NGOs and various
voluntary organisations pumped in crores of money towards
rehabilitation of the affected people.
Children of tsunami-hit coastal areas of the state now have
access to high quality English medium education, which was
absent earlier, while the youth have taken up entrepreneurial
ventures.
According to NGO volunteers engaged in rehabilitation
of the affected, about 40 per cent of the women of tsunami-hit
areas have become entrepreneurs and are making products such
as footwear, leather articles, pickles and coir products.
Many other women have embarked on modern fish marketing
activities, tailoring, mobile canteens, handicrafts making and
even driving and masonry.
Besides formation of self-help groups have also helped
the district's economy to grow.
A study conducted by Rejuvenate India Movement (RIM), an
NGO, more than eight tsunami-hit villages in Tarangambadi
taluk of Nagapattinam district has revealed a remarkable
improvement in the learning skills of tsunami-hit students.
Top multinational companies have started English medium
schools. Consumer electronics giant Samsung India has opened a
school at Chinnangudi village near Tarangmabadi.
In Chennai, about 500 residents of Odai Kuppam and Odai
Managar at Besant Nagar here offered prayers and thronged the
Elliots Beach on the sixth anniversary of the tsunami.
About 500 women at the Marina here took out a "milk-pot"
procession and later poured the milk in the sea as a mark of
respect for the departed.
Candle-light march and memorial service were also held.
Fishermen stayed away from the sea as a mark of respect to
those who lost their lives on 26 December, 2004.
A section of fishermen alleged that they were yet to get
the complete compensation and relief package announced by the
Central and state governments.

In Tarangambadi in Nagapattinam district, where more than
700 lives had been killed due to the tsunami, the scars of the
disaster have faded with time and the town is abuzz with
tourism activities.
A large number of foreign tourists, mostly from the
Scandinavian countries, visit the town every day, which has
two major attractions - the 'Ozone-Rich Beach' and the
majestic Dansborg fort that withstood the tsunami attack.
The Danes, who came to Tarangambadi in the early 17th
century, built the 'Dansborg' Fort in 1620 AD designing it
based on the splendid Viking architecture.
It is situated right at the sea-front, barely about 100
metres from the sea. The tsunami on December 26, 2004 could
not affect even a single brick in this structure, officials
say.
The Department of Archaeology is now constructing a granite
yard around the fort to conserve the heritage structure.
Besides 'Dansborg', foreign tourists love Tarangambadi for
its 'Ozone Rich' beach.
It is reported that Tarangambadi ranks next only to
Switzerland in having high dose of Ozone content in the
breeze, which has a rejuvenating effect on health.
Every year between October to March, Ozone in the breeze is
reported to be high.
Asia's first Protestant Church, the 'New Jerusalem' church
built in AD 1718 is a marvellous piece of architecture at
Tarangambadi. The church is under the control of the Tamil
Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) and is in use even today.
The Neemrana Group of Hotels has converted a historic beach
view bungalow as a heritage hotel at Tarangambadi. The rooms
are fully occupied by foreign tourists. Being the only Star
Hotel in Nagai district, the 'Bungalow on the Beach' attracts
all VVIPs visiting Nagapattinam district.
However, for native tourists, facilities are rather poor.
"Even basic amenities like toilets, drinking water and
other facilities are lacking. Low-cost boarding and lodging
facilities, shopping complex, beach parks, amusement parks for
children and similar facilities, if provided by Government,
would certainly give a fillip to tourism activities," said
M A Sultan, a Tarangambadi-based historian. PTI COR
HMI