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Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Leader Page Articles

Rebuilding lives in Andamans

By Ramachandra Ganesh Kapse

Almost two months after `Black Sunday,' the Andaman &Nicobar Islands are bustling with activity.

ON DECEMBER 26, 2004, a massive earthquake measuring almost 9 on the Richter scale struck the Andaman & Nicobar Islands at 6.29 a.m. People rushed out of their houses, water pipes burst, and power supply and communications snapped. Suddenly, the islands were cut off from the rest of the world. Within minutes of the quake I, along with the officers of the administration, Member of Parliament and other representatives of the people, was on the streets of Port Blair reassuring the public. There was no panic. Due to the high level of awareness, people took precautions such as coming out of buildings immediately. Tourists were guided to the tourism office. When we visited the wharf at Haddo, the sea was churning and rising.

News of the disaster in the Nicobars reached us by noon through the lone satellite phone available with the Deputy Commissioner of Nicobar district. Immediately, I took off for Car Nicobar in a Coast Guard Dornier, the only operational aircraft at that time, along with the Member of Parliament, the Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command and landed at the Car Nicobar Air Force Station. Twenty-eight bodies were found lying around the air base. When we entered the villages, we saw long lines of people moving in a disciplined way towards temporary shelters. There was no panic, no tears.

Rescue and relief operations started immediately. An emergency meeting was held at the Raj Nivas. The crisis management team was called and action points were drawn up to deal with the emergency on a war footing. Round-the-clock control rooms were set up. Officers were dispatched to affected areas with emergency communication equipment and medicines to set up relief camps. An aerial survey of Katchal, Kamorta and Teressa on December 28, 2004, revealed extensive damage to life and property. However, there was no panic. People were seen moving in lines towards safer areas. At Chowra, 38 persons had been buried in a mass grave, and the village captain gave me a list containing their names. Jetties at Campbell Bay and Little Andaman were washed away.

Today, almost two months after `Black Sunday,' the islands are bustling with activity. Materials for reconstruction are reaching their destined places. Layouts for intermediate shelters have been prepared and construction work has already started. In Car Nicobar, the beneficiaries, who would themselves occupy the shelters they are engaged to build, are beaming with happiness. "God helps those who help themselves" seems to be the motto of the Nicobarese. The design of the shelters has been decided upon in consultation with the tribal captains. Built in a traditional way, they will provide protection against the monsoon before the permanent shelters come up. By April 15, 2005, temporary shelters such as these would be ready for occupation all across the islands.

The prime task before the administration in the early days was rescue and relief. All available ships were pressed into service ferrying relief material. Search parties combed the affected areas looking for survivors. Stocks of rations, ready-to-eat food, water, fuel and medicines were rushed to the affected areas. Finding and disposing of the dead was another major task. Most of the bodies, in a highly putrefied condition, had to be extricated from under the rubble. A total of 1,395 bodies have been recovered so far; 5,764 are missing. The towering wave might have swept many far out to sea. Katchal was the worst hit. Most of the teachers on the island perished. But when schools reopened on January 3, 2005, qualified volunteers came forward to teach. They were immediately appointed as teachers by the administration.

Initially, more than 200 camps were set up and about 46,000 people accommodated in them. As on date, there are 153 camps having 40,155 inmates. All camps have been provided with generators, communication facilities and medical facilities. All children in camps have been immunised against measles. DPT and Hepatitis B vaccines are also being administered. With the normalisation of the situation, many people are returning to their homes. It is worth mentioning that no outbreak of any epidemic or communicable disease has been reported from any camp or island in spite of the magnitude of the disaster.

Apart from the administration, 53 NGOs stepped in to assist in the relief and rehabilitation efforts. The NGOs have been actively engaged in the running of the relief camps and offering counselling to the inmates. An appropriate counselling mechanism has been arranged for widows, orphans and vulnerable sections. Some NGOs have chosen to work over long periods by pledging support in the construction of temporary and permanent housing, schools, community centres, etc.

Amidst the ruin and devastation of the tsunami, amazing stories of survival and courage emerged. Meghana Rajashekhar, the teenaged daughter of an Air Force officer, survived in the sea for two days and was rescued. The tsunami claimed her parents and a brother. Sanjeev, the SHO of Katchal police station, gave his life saving people. Wireless operator Razzak, posted on the Terassa Island, sensed the coming of the tsunami when he saw the sea recede suddenly. He ran shouting to the people to head for higher ground. A Class IV employee of the marine department saved a vessel worth crores by taking it out to sea all by himself. Even though his wife was lost, the Tehsildar at Car Nicobar kept on working continuously for 10 days. Ten-year-old Almash Javeed was found alive on Pil Pillow five days after the tsunami struck. Ten days after the tsunami, two boys emerged from the forest and led the rescue teams to 17 persons trapped in the jungle. Saw Agu survived for 13 days without food or water before walking to safety. Michael Mangal survived for a month on fruits and wild boar. Jessie was the most recent to emerge after almost 45 days in the jungles living off tubers and wild berries.

Mediapersons from the national and international print and electronic media thronged the islands. Special arrangements were made for the press to be flown to the affected areas. Candid reporting by the press helped highlight the severe logistical problems being faced by the administration and the defence forces in tackling the crisis. A flood of relief material reached the islands within days of the catastrophe. On December 31, 2004, the Government of India constituted an Integrated Relief Command for effective coordination and operationalisation of relief and rehabilitation measures. The IRC met every evening in the early days and held daily press briefings.

It has been a matter of great relief that no member of the aboriginal tribes has been reported dead or missing as a consequence of the tsunami. No tourist, domestic or foreign, died or was injured by the quake or the tsunami. All were safely evacuated to the mainland through additional flights operated by Indian Airlines. Surprisingly, tourists are continuing to visit the islands even after the tsunami. The grandson of Lt. Col. Ferrar, a former Chief Commissioner, visited the islands and enjoyed several days of diving at Havelock Island. A group of tourists from Chhattisgarh, enjoying a quiet evening at Chidiya Tapu, a popular tourist spot, felt that tourism would return to the islands, as the popular tourist resorts remained unaffected.

The work of paying ex gratia to the next of kin of the dead is on. The Union Home Ministry has simplified the procedure for payment. In Car Nicobar, a compensation of Rs. 50,000 each has been sanctioned to the next of kin of 212 of the 251 identified dead. In Campbell Bay, the next of kin of 10 identified dead have been paid Rs. 50,000 each. In Little Andaman and South Andaman, 35 families of identified dead have been paid a compensation of Rs. 50,000. Ex gratia of Rs. 2000 each has been paid to 2,018 families in Car Nicobar, 2000 in Great Nicobar, 750 in Kamorta, 600 in Katchal and 6,486 in Andaman district.

Car Nicobar, Teressa, Katchal, Kamorta, Nancowry, Campbell Bay and Little Andaman have been well stocked with essential relief items such as baby food, rice, sugar, milk powder, atta, dal and edible oil. Sufficient stocks of kerosene, diesel and petrol are being maintained through the APWD and a petrol pump run by EHL at Car Nicobar. The Relief Commissioner (Supplies) has been entrusted with the task of monitoring the position of the stocks on a day-to-day basis. Orders have been placed for household items such as cooking utensils, cots, sewing machines and carpentry tools to re-equip the tribals and help them rebuild their dwellings.

Many dignitaries visited the islands and encouraged the administration, Defence and NGOs in the relief and rehabilitation efforts. The Andaman & Nicobar Administration gratefully acknowledges the help and support received from all quarters. The Prime Minister, during his visit to the Islands said: "We shall build a `New Andamans'." In the `New Andamans,' eco-tourism, fisheries and high value agriculture will be the thrust areas. Man and nature will co-exist in perfect harmony in the `New Andamans.'

(The writer is Lieutenant Governor, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.)

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