The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Two city survivors recall the nightmare

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

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Two city survivors recall the nightmare

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 27. They emerged from the jaws of death. Literally. For Vijay and Kumar of Ammuguda on the city outskirts, it was a Christmas miracle of the sorts as they went visiting the famous Velangani church at Nagapattinam in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, only to be almost swallowed by the tsunami tidal wave.

They, along with their three friends -- Vinay Kumar, Sivam and Ulaganathan -- all from the same colony were on the Velangani beach at Nagapattinam when the killer waves hit the coast on Sunday.

As fate would have it, Vinay Kumar (29) died while Sivam went missing. Ulganathan is said to have survived the sea assault, but is yet to reach home.

Both Vijay and Kumar returned to the city in an ambulance carrying the dead body of Vinay on Monday evening. The five friends had gone to Nagapattinam for Christmas and were staying at a lodge near the beach.

"It was around 9 a.m. when suddenly, a wall of waves, at least 20 feet high, hit us. While I managed to catch hold of the grill of the church's compound, the others got swept away. In the swirling waters, I found a log and threw it towards them. Only Kumar managed to hold onto it and the rest were gone. All this in a few seconds," recalled a grim-looking Vijay.

Priest comes to rescue

A priest came to the rescue of Vijay and Kumar and dragged them into the church from the surging waters.

"By then we had swallowed enough water and thought that was the end. The priest resuscitated us and we owe our lives to him. This is nothing short of a rebirth," a shocked Vijay said.

When asked about his friends, "We searched for them for hours together, but in vain. Later, with the help of other people, we could retrieve the body of Vinay while Sivam was nowhere. Perhaps, he is no more," Kumar said with tears in his eyes.

Hours later, Ulaganathan called up his family to inform them that he was safe. All the five had their return reservation for December 27. Vijay said that he could see hundreds being washed away in the waves.

Another family from the same locality also had a close encounter with death.

The family of J.K. Kumar had gone to Nagapattinam, but returned safely. For the Alwal Municipal Chairperson, Jeevakan, it was sheer luck as he along with his three family members had left for Bangalore from Nagapattinam, a day before the catastrophe.

A pall of gloom descended on the house of Vinay as friends and well-wishers started pouring in after learning about the tragedy.

His father Vishnu Kumar, a retired employee of NCC Directorate, wept inconsolably while his mother and other family members were in a state of shock trying hard to come to terms with the loss.

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