The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Warning system

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 30, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Warning system

Sir, — India should join the International Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System and install seismic sensors and tidal gauges along its coastline. An effective disaster management team should be put in place. The Tamil Nadu Government should take immediate steps to permanently evacuate people living on the banks of the Cooum and close to the sea. As Chennai comes under a zone indicating high seismic activity, the CMDA should restrict sanction for high-rise buildings.

T. Ravindranath,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — Going by the number of earthquakes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has experienced over the last one year, one wonders why our country, which has a well established earthquake monitoring mechanism, failed to take the cue. The data are available to all the seismologists. Given this attitude, what is the point in having a tsunami warning system?

D. Chandrasekharam,
Mumbai

* * *

Sir, — Exactly 40 years ago, a severe cyclonic storm and tidal waves hit Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu. Within 24 hours, the port town was wiped out. Later some researchers said a localised little whirlwind that occurred in Africa several months earlier developed into a cyclonic storm and devastated the pilgrim centre.

Now, a massive earthquake in Indonesia has resulted in high seismic waves across six countries in the Indian Ocean resulting in the death of thousands of people and destruction of property worth crores. Ironically, experts could not give timely warning in both the cases.

D. Pitchumani,
Usilampatti, T.N.

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