Monday, Dec 27, 2004
Monday, Dec 27, 2004 |
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By A.V. Ragunathan
CUDDALORE, DEC. 27. Calamity struck Cuddalore in the form of seismic waves, claiming over 400 lives, mostly children and women, in the coastal villages of this district, at about 8.30 a.m., today. Hundreds of people are said to be missing and several others were injured when the debris of the falling tenements fell on them. The waves banged the coastal areas at least five times within four hours. According to an eyewitness account, waves rising 7-10 feet lashed the tenements on the shore, pulling down the structures and devouring the occupants. Before they realised what had happened, many found a watery grave. Even seasoned fishermen could not swim against the ferocious waves, while women and children fell hapless victim to the fury of the sea. The most affected coastal villages are Nallavadu, Suba Uppalavadi, Thallangudi, Thevanampattinam, Sonankuppam, Samiarpettai, Pudhukuppam, Muzhukkuthurai, MGR Thittu, Killai, Periakuppam and Chinnur. Several boats were washed away, and the fate of fishermen who set sail is not known. The Coast Guard and the Air Force have been alerted to look for drifting boats and rescue the people from MGR Thittu and Chinna Vaikkal, which were completely marooned.
Chaos in hospital
Chaos prevailed outside the Cuddalore Government Hospital as relatives of victims gathered in big numbers wailing over the losses. Ambulances were making several trips to bring the dead to the mortuary. The bodies of young children and adults, frothing at the mouth and with bloodstains, were lying all over on the mortuary campus. The medical team had a tough time in identifying the bodies and conducting post-mortem. Heavy police bandobust was provided to regulate the mourners. The Ministers, C.Ve. Shanmugham, K.P. Anbalagan and Ramachandran, visited the hospital and mortuary to console the bereaved and coordinate relief works. The District Collector, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, said 218 deaths were confirmed. Several persons were said to be missing. Conceding the requests of the villagers, he arranged for a mass burial on the banks of the Pennaiyar here, and also at Chidambaram. Food packets were distributed to the affected people and they were moved to safety. A pall gloom engulfed the entire town. Many people in the neighbouring areas fled to safety, catching any available conveyance. Some travelled atop buses to Panruti and Neyveli. A section of the affected has gone to the Caper Hills, a hillock about seven km from the town. The camp office of the Superintendent of Police and the Government Arts College near Silver Beach were fully covered with seawater. However, none was present in the SP's bungalow at that time.
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