Role of Indian scientists in tsunami relief
FOUR WEEKS and four days ago, the India tectonic plate moved underneath the Burma microplate, raising it by 15 metres and fracturing it for a length of 1300 km. This caused an earthquake that sent a water wave rising into a tsunami that travelled from Aceh to the Indian coast at the incredible speed of 900 km per hour, causing colossal damage and loss of over 150,000 lives in hours.
Sensationalist media
In covering the tragedy and its aftermath, some of our TV channels, unfortunately, have been more sensationalists than sensitive. Some focused on what images `sell' than what could have been done on the spot as help; others were faulting our scientists and technologists on their `late' response and `failure to forewarn.'
True, some of this criticism arose out of anguish, but it is worth reading what the editor of Nature magazine had to say: "It turns out, on closer examination, that not all of this is true. The size of the quake wasn't apparent at first glance; early estimates put it at magnitude 8, not exceptional for submarine quakes and is an order of magnitude smaller than the eventual value of 9... And in the absence of an ocean-based monitoring system, remote seismologists did not know that the quake had triggered a tsunami... Additionally, as the awful scale of the disaster slowly emerged from remote regions of western Indonesia, it has become clear that most of the death and destruction had occurred in a region that was too close to the epicentre for warnings to have made much difference...
"It is clear, with the benefit of hindsight, that the arcane international bodies that manage tsunami protection have been neglected and under-funded for many years. Most of them have focused on the Pacific Ocean, and occasional attempts to widen their brief to the Indian Ocean have been rebuffed."
Rarity, high cost
Some have asked why we did not join the Pacific tsunami warning system. The government has gone by the rarity of tsunami in India and the very high annual cost in joining the system. I wonder whether we citizens would have voted yes or no, had a referendum been held on the issue of joining the system at this cost. It is easy to criticise than to act yourself. Armchair criticism costs nothing. Involvement costs effort and resources.
It is this part, of what people did, that is worth recalling. And what our beleaguered scientists and technologists have been doing things right from day one is remarkable. Here is a brief summary, surely a sample and not an exhaustive list, of some help that this community has been rendering.
What did the tsunami victims need the most, and right away? Food, water, shelter, medical assistance and psychological encouragement. These have come pouring in from S&T labs around the country. Particular mention must be made of some of the CSIR labs, Defence Labs, and DBT labs.
The Mysore-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) and Defence Food Research Institute (DFRI) rendered timely aid. Immediately upon hearing of the tsunami devastation, the CFTRI team gathered together — 982 of them — and took along ready-to-eat and ready-to-prepare nutritious food. Transporting them from Mysore to coastal Tamil Nadu involved logistics that had to be quickly mastered, and master it they did.
They were there in the ravaged area, offering food, water, milk powder and other essentials. They could provide, on the spot, a total of 55 tonnes of food and 14 tonnes of water. The total number of meals supplied was 1,85,000 and all this was done with an eye on nutritional balance, immediate disbursal, and also usable both in community kitchens and for individuals and families.
DRDO's response
Great and ready cooperation came from several NGOs and civil officials. A total of 90 camps were covered, along the 400 km coast of Tamil Nadu, all in 10 days since the tsunami hit.
Hand in hand went the people from the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). They rushed a team of doctors and paramedics with necessary medicines and consumables to remote areas in and around Nagapattinam, to care for the victims. They worked in concert with the local authorities, catering to thousands.
Two scientists carrying S-band briefcase version Satcom terminals offered communication facilities. A team of 24 went with gas-cutting and other equipment for relief operations, while psychologists counselled victims of post-traumatic stress.
In addition, DFRI scientists supplied a total of 3.5 tons of food, and sent along vehicle-mounted reverse osmosis (RO) plants to generate and supply potable water on the spot.
Potable water supplied
Water, water, everywhere but not a drop to drink? It is here that the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, turned the phrase on its head. They have extensive and proven expertise in providing affordable, easy to use, RO machines that turn any water into potable, safe drinking water.
Some of their RO plants can run on bullock cart power! In addition, they also have the electro-dialysis (ED) technology to turn brackish water potable and safe.
A team of over 20 CSMCRI staff members rushed and installed both ED and RO plants in coastal Tamil Nadu and in the Andamans.
Two 400 litres per hour (lph) units were installed at Ayyampettai (Cuddalore), a 2500 lph RO plant at Akkaraipettai, two RO plants for Car Nicobar (each 800-1300 lph), and one at Campbell Bay.
Task of shelter
Next comes the task of shelter and building houses and related structures. The Chennai-based Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC) carried our rapid assessment and evaluation of the structural safety of tsunami affected houses and buildings not only at the Kalpakkam Nuclear Centre, but also on coastal locales at Pondicherry, Cuddalore, Tirumullaivasal, Nagapattinam, Vailankanni, Nagur and Tharangampadi.
Post-assessment steps have been initiated, and this rebuilding front will not stop but go on the long haul mode. Here too, as with CSMCRI and the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) Roorkee, prior experience in disaster management (the Bhuj earthquake) has been of value. CBRI expects to take part in these long- term efforts.
The sad task of identifying victims and authentication cannot be forgotten, and the need for a Cell for Disaster Victim Identification has been keenly felt.
The Centre for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics (CDFD) at Hyderabad, which has the relevant expertise, has proposed setting up of such a cell. This would involve both classical methods and the DNA-based technology of the kind used in identifying victims of the World Trade Center (9/11) tragedy.
ISRO, NIO, NGRI role
Have the geographical features of the coast and the Andaman islands changed after the quake and tsunami? This information is being obtained through the expertise of not only the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), but also the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa and National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad. NGRI has sent a team to the Andamans, which is making geographic positioning measurements, setting up eight broadband seismic and gravity stations at Port Blair and Car Nicobar. These would not only help in forewarning, but also help aircraft in their landing protocols. We need to use both traditional and tomorrow's technology to predict and prevent such disasters, and to rush aid in relief and resettlement.
Animals, plants escape
Interestingly, while humans died, animals and coastal plant life suffered little. Proven methods such as more mangroves, 500-metre coastal safety zones and others, geo-methods and astro-methods must be insisted upon, and the agenda detailed admirably by Dr. M. S. Swaminathan (The Hindu, January 17, 2005) needs to be followed. Above all, people must be made aware of what to expect and how to handle it.
Recall the report of the little British schoolgirl who beckoned her parents to safety while vacationing at a Thai beach; she was taught in class that when the sea first quietens and recedes rapidly, a tsunami is apprehended.
D. Balasubramanian
dbala@lvpei.org
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