The Hindu : Kerala News : Arattupuzha resembles a war-ravaged zone

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 28, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Others

Arattupuzha resembles a war-ravaged zone

By Our Staff Reporter

ARATTUPUZHA, DEC. 27. A journey through the Thottappally-Valiyazheekkal coastal road, which passes through Arattupuzha panchayat did not show any sign of tidal wave attack till we neared Perumpally in Arattupuzha panchayat.

As we neared this southern tip of Arattupuzha panchayat signs of yesterday's tidal attack began to become visible. Coconut trees were seen uprooted. Just after the Perumpally Junction, the scene suddenly changed.

It looked like a war-ravaged zone with damaged houses everywhere. Household utensils were strewn all over the area. Damaged vehicles, which included cars and buses, were seen on the road.

As we walked forward even the road disappeared. The whole area was filled with mineral sand. Only the black sand deposited by the sea could be seen everywhere.

The area wore a deserted look. A majority of the residents of the area has been rehabilitated in the various relief camps operating in the neighbouring panchayats of Muthukulam and Kandaloor.

On finding a person near a damaged house at Tharayilkkadavu area in the panchayat we approached him. The man who identified himself as Ponnan, Pachayil house, Tharayilkkadavu, said he and his family had a providential escape yesterday.

He said he was sitting inside the house when the tidal waves emerged from the sea. He suddenly closed the door. In no time water entered the whole area. His house is almost 100 meters away from the sea. Mr. Ponnan said a huge wave destroyed his shop situated in front of his house. The wave also destroyed the compound wall.

Mr. Ponnan said the surging water broke the lock of his front door. "Seeing the water surging inside I dragged by sons by their hand and ran out through the back door," said Mr. Ponnan. He said somehow or other he and his family members managed to reach a safe spot.

Recounting the tidal wave attack, P. G. Sugunan, the Ambalappuzha taluk president of Dheevara Sabha, said eyewitnesses told him that the sea receded before it surged ahead. The waves rolled back and then took the shape of a serpent and surged forward destroying everything in front, he said.

As we walked further forward, the Congress leader, V. M. Sudheeran, was seen talking to members of a family, which lost their earnings in yesterday's catastrophe.

Rajendran, a resident of Valiyazheekkal, said he lost 97 gram of gold, which he had purchased recently for the marriage of his daughter. His house had been razed to ground.

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