Tsunami survivors weathered the scars of 2004 with resilience

Chennai: Twenty years after the tsunami struck on the fateful morning of December 26, 2004, the irreparable scars of the tragic loss of their close blood relationship still haunt the survivors.

Saumya, who was one of the survivors of the massive flood that killed 6,065 people in Nagapattinam district, is now a mother of a daughter. Like many other children orphaned by the tsunami, she accepted the harsh reality and showed resilience to overcome the crisis and survive.

She was four years old when the tsunami hit the coast, destroying a large amount of property and life. Somya later became the daughter of IAS officer Dr J Radhakrishnan and completed her BA in Economics.

Radhakrishnan got married to technician K Subhas in 2022. She became a mother to a daughter in October this year.

“It is heartwarming to see our daughter grow up and become a mother. Our family felt blessed,” said Radhakrishnan, currently Additional Chief Secretary, Cooperatives Department.

He was accompanied by his wife Kritika and son Dr R Arvind and Nagapattinam District Collector P Akash who showered blessings and gifts on Soumya at her foster home in the district.

Meena and Soumya, who were rescued as girls, were among the 40 survivors who grew up in the Annai Satya Government Children’s Home. They came together and celebrated their reunion on December 22, the 20th anniversary of the tsunami. Among them, 35-year-old Tamilarasi Vijayabalan, who also holds BSc and MCA degrees in IT, is now working as a teacher at the Annai Sathya Government Children’s Home, which was set up after the tsunami to take care of 100 children.

Located at Samanthanapettai near Nagapattinam, the home now cares for victims of abuse and child marriage.

Radhakrishnan was then appointed as Collector to oversee relief and rehabilitation activities in Nagapattinam district.

Apart from Radhakrishnan and his family, Collector Akash, District Child Protection Officer V Ajilarasi and Juvenile Justice Board member M Malarvizhi also praised the survivors for showing resilience.

About 50 town panchayats in six coastal districts of the state namely Kanchipuram, Villuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari and Thoothukud have been affected due to the wave outbreak.

The affected Nagar Panchayats were classified as worst damaged and partially damaged based on the severity of the disaster and 19 out of 50 Nagar Panchayats were declared worst hit as the loss of life was heavy, an official said.

A quiet Sunday after Christmas turned into a nightmare for hundreds of families in coastal districts from Cuddalore to Kanyakumari. Huge waves destroyed settlements, infrastructure and claimed many lives.

“State government agencies and non-governmental organizations helped rebuild houses and restore our livelihoods,” says RMP Rajendra Nattar, president of the Indian National Fishermen’s Association, Nagapattinam.

In view of the 20th anniversary, the Tamil Nadu government should take steps to waive off the fishermen’s contribution of Rs 11.34 crore for setting up a mini fishing harbor at Nambiarnagar in the district.
“Fishermen have mortgaged houses built for them by the government under tsunami rehabilitation, to make their contribution. They are now in debt. Waiver of their contribution will be a relief to the fishermen,” he told PTI.

Nattar said that he had already submitted an application to the Fisheries Department officials in this regard and told them that only the government can take a policy decision on the waiver.

The state government provided Rs 2287 million for the construction of the mini fishing harbor which was inaugurated last year.

Leave a Comment