The Hindu : National : A return after an ordeal

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

National

National

A return after an ordeal

By Our Special Correspondent

People walk on a road damaged by tsunami waves at Silver Beach area of Cuddalore on Monday. — AP

CHENNAI, DEC. 27. Venue: Gate no. 5, Old Meenambakkam airport complex. Time: 6.15 p.m. An IL-76, the biggest transportation aircraft of the Air Force, brought in 400 persons from the Car Nicobar island.

All of them belonged to the Air Force Station base there. Of the passengers, 216 were children and 156 women. As anxious relatives of the deceased and the survivors waited, they disembarked after a two-and-half hour journey.

Gripped by sorrow, they said the island had been virtually wiped out by the tsunami. "We have lost everything. Our dear and near ones have been swept away by the waves. There is nothing more to lose," said an Army officer. He had returned with his children.

Most of the children were swollen eyed. They all belonged to Lapapi Senior Secondary School and Navodaya Air Force Station Base School. Some of them had been orphaned.

Guided by the Tambaram Air Force Station officer, they walked out of the airport complex and got in to the waiting buses to go to the Tambaram station.

M.S. Ahuluwalia, Air Officer Commanding, Tambaram Airport Station, said: "In all 400 persons have been brought by the chartered plane." The commander of the IL-76 said he made several sorties and could see only sheets of water. "There was virtually no human inhabitant."

Tourists return

Earlier in the day, Indian Airlines and Jet Airways operated special flights from Chennai and Port Blair to bring back tourists.

Four flights, each with 119 passengers, were operated. Most of them had gone to Port Blair under the leave travel concession arrangement.

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