The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Prakasam villages bear the brunt

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 27, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Prakasam villages bear the brunt

By Our Special Correspondent

ONGOLE, DEC. 26. Twenty-two persons died and several others were missing when seawater propelled by a tidal wave entered several coastal villages in Prakasam district at 8.30 am today. Hundreds of people were seen fleeing coastal villages with fear writ large on their faces.

They reached safety carrying their children and belongings and using all modes of transport.

Following warning issued by seismologists that the earthquake in the sea might recur and cause intrusion of water into villages again in the next 48 hours, the Government asked fishermen to stay away from their homes till they are declared safe.

Some 17 tourists belonging to one family were caught in the swirling waters while taking bath in the sea at Pallepalem, a hamlet of Pakala, 20 km from here. While seven bodies had been recovered till afternoon, the fate of others was not known, said the head of the family who survived. Some five salt workers died at Vullapalem, three km away. Seven persons died at Vetapalem where 10 others were reported missing.

A fisherman of Pallepalem, Gollamothu Swamulu (50), said he saw the waves rising 2-3 metres above normal height from a distance of one km and sensed trouble. Even as he alerted people, seawater crossed the coastline and surrounded the entire village inhabited by some 4,000 people, mostly fishermen. "We have never seen seawater intruding into the village so much even during the worst cyclone of 1979,'' he said. Seawater entered Buckingham canal making the water level rise to 6-8 feet.

Village abandoned

Fear-stricken women left the village with children and reached Pakala crossing the bridge across Buckingham canal. They later reached the relief camp at Singarayakonda. Men however stayed back. But they were also frightened when they saw yet another wave engulfing the village two hours later and fled the village with their belongings.

The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, visited Vullapalem and announced an ex gratia of Rs. one lakh to the kin of each victim. He asked people to stay in relief camps for the next two days and said they would be given 25 kg rice while returning to their homes.

While returning to other coastal villages by helicopter, Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy, found five bodies floating in the sea and sent a message to the District Collector to fish them out.

The Finance Minister, K. Rosaiah, said the calamity was quite unexpected. "They say it was caused due to tremors in the sea in Indonesia. You can give a name to it only after finding the reasons in the next few days,'' he said.

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