The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Desperation writ large in relief camps

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

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Desperation writ large in relief camps

By P.S. Suresh Kumar

NAGERCOIL, DEC. 29 . Anguish, desperation, uncertainty and haunting memories of the tragic Sunday unfolded in all relief camps in this district.

Relatives of the tsunami-affected fishermen from different parts of the country visited the camps for the third day to console them. Affected fishermen in a camp also went to other camps in search of their kin. They broke down when newspersons approached them.

"Who will hear our sordid tale", asks Lenadimai of Keelamanakudi who lost a house on which he spent more than Rs. 15 lakhs. He had fixed the house-warming ceremony for tomorrow. Now he sees only rubbles of the big house. "The government relief of Rs. 5, 000 as a package for each family is yet to reach us." Fishermen, particularly women, have started begging, says Lenadimai, pointing to a woman who was begging in front of his relief camp at Thentamaraikulam.

Is it possible to set up a hut at the cost of Rs. 2000, asks a cross-section of the affected fishermen, asking that the Government increase the amount. John of Keelamanakudi lost four members of his family, including his daughter-in-law and his grandaughters. His son Aruldhasan had gone to Saudi Arabia to work in a fishing trawler. He is coming home tomorrow unaware of the death of his wife and two daughters. "How can I console him," asks Aruldhasan's mother.

In a relief camp opened in St. Mary's Higher Secondary School at Colachel, affected fishermen and their families were staying on the littered ground. It has become virtually impossible for people to cross the relief camp as well as the Colachel government hospital. Foul smell emanates from the unidentified bodies kept in the hospital and the school ground. The Water stagnation in the AVM channel, from where a large number of bodies was recovered, is posing a health hazard at and around Colachel.

Death toll mounts

With the recovery of seven bodies today, the death toll in the district rose to 737. Rescue operation was going on. Five more rescue vehicles from Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Theni districts were deployed, the Deputy Director of Fire Services, N. Namasivayam, said

He said more than 24 rescue vehicles and 350 fire-service personnel were pressed into service.

The services of more than 350 fire service personnel were also pressed in to service in rescue operations.

The Federation of All Non-Governmental Organisations has appointed zonal-level committees to distribute relief materials. Those who want to contribute relief materials can contact phone numbers 279152 and 278343.

Road roko

Five hundred fishermen staged road roko on the Kanyakumari - Nagercoil National Highway in front of St. Antony Higher Secondary School today, demanding that the Government distribute relief materials and give them fishing boats.

A police team persuaded them to withdrawn their agitation.

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