The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Fishermen in Catch 22 situation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Fishermen in Catch 22 situation

By Our Special Correspondent

ONGOLE, DEC. 28. Following the tidal wave disaster, fear stalks the coastal villages. Fishermen are in a dilemma, not knowing whether to stay in their villages or take shelter in relief camps.

With the Government indicating that tremors might recur and cause tidal waves in the next 48 hours, they do not want to stay in villages. But they also cannot leave their villages as they fear that their belongings might be stolen.

When the tidal wave hit them, women and children literally ran for their lives. The men stayed back to take care of their belongings. But when the waves rose again after two hours, they too lost their nerve and fled their homes.

They stayed in the relief camp on Sunday night. Most of them returned on Monday morning to take care of their animals/ crops and safeguard their belongings. But the fear of another tidal wave forced them to reach the relief camps for night leaving their homes locked.

The situation is no different in Ullapalem, Devarampalem, Pallepalem and other coastal habitations.

NGOs do their bit

They expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made by the Government at the relief camps. Several voluntary organisations also swung into action to provide food. World Vision is supplying cooked rice and sambar to 5,000 families in six villages. Gayatri Vidyalay is also supplying food to the affected families. Rastreeya Swayam Sevak Sangh volunteers and CPI(M) workers are also doing service to the people.

The Medical and Health department is running medical camps in the villages and chlorinating water sources.

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Andhra Pradesh