Thousands missing in Andamans

Thousands missing in Andamans

Tuesday, December 28, 2004 (Port Blair):

The total extent of death and devastation is yet to emerge after tsunami waves caused chaos across south and southeast Asian coastlines.

At least 6,000 people are estimated to have been killed in India while the combined toll across Asia is over 24,000 deaths.

An earthquake measuring 9 on the Richter scale, undersea off the Indonesian coast on Sunday morning, triggered waves moving at the speed of jets to crash into shorelines 2000 km away from the epicentre.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands are among the worst hit as it is relatively closer to the epicentre of the earthquake.

More than 3,000 people are feared dead in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

In the Car Nicobar Island, 100 Indian Air Forces personnel have reportedly been washed away.

Widespread damage

Houses and roads are still under water. The extent of the damage is not fully clear as communication lines, especially with the outlying islands, are still down.

There are two sides of the human disaster in the islands. There are the tribals, who have lived here for generations, perhaps unable to grasp the magnitude of the disaster.

And then there are those who have recently arrived from the mainland. These people, angry at nature's fury, are willing to turn their despair at anyone.

To gauge the full extent of the damage it could take days or even months.

Survivors say they had no time to react as gigantic tsunami waves ran over their tiny houses.

"There was an earthquake, after five minutes there was water all around and we ran away. When we came back, our homes had been destroyed," said one local.

Relief and rescue

Supplies are coming in, but for thousands of survivors who have lost everything, no amount of help can take away the reality of an uncertain future.

Indian naval ships and several Air Force aircraft have joined the relief effort at Car Nicobar, where the IAF's base has been severely damaged.

A part of the airstrip at Car Nicobar is cracked and is still under water. Still there is enough runway length to allow the landing of large IAF transport planes.

Death waves

For the Air Force personnel, the past 48 hours have been a virtual battle to save lives despite the unbelievable adversity around them.

The sub-judicial magistrate of Car Nicobar is dead as are dozens of policemen.

Many of the buildings belonging to the IAF were almost instantly destroyed by the waves, which were up to 20 feet high.

Some people who rushed to the second floor were dragged into the ocean by waves taller than the buildings.

There is a strange irony here. Hundreds of Indian Air Force personnel were among the first to be killed in Gujarat when the airbase at Bhuj was devastated.

Aid pours in

Aid is pouring in the form of portable generators, medical supplies, food and water.

For several of the people from the mainland, jostling to board planes that will evacuate them to safety, Car Nicobar is a chapter in their lives, which is now over.

But for the tribals who know no other home, finding a way of overcoming this tragedy may take months if not years.

news from ndtv.com

(With PTI inputs)