MSSRF | Tsunami | Tsunami Tragedy Report from Information Village Research Project

Tidal Tragedy

Tsunami Tragedy Report from Information Village Research Project -

M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai.

“We have not only lost lives, but also our livelihood. It may take months, perhaps years for us to recover. Our future is totally dark"

– Fishermen at Periayakalapet

Informatics Division has been working in four coastal villages in the Union Territory of Pondicherry under the Information Village Research Project.

A Team consisting of Mr.J.Gopu, Mr.Rajamanickam, Mr.Jayakrishnan, and Mr.Sendhilkumaran had visited the villages on 28 - 29 December'2004 to have discussion with fishing community regarding the tsunami tragedy.

Periyakalapet

Total Families: 710

Population: 3080 (Male-1525, Female - 1555)

13 persons died and 5 persons are missing. On 26th December all the children had assembled in the temple (opposite to the knowledge center) for coaching for the upcoming examination. Thus all of them were saved.

75 fiber boats, 140 catamarans and 90 houses are lost.

Knowledge center volunteers are taking survey and are submitting reports to the Fisheries Department. They are helping the community along with Panchayat. Tsunami attacked four times in this village.

Fishing Harbor

Nearly 50 boats (each costs Rs.15, 00,000/-) are missing. MSSRF has recently opened a center in the harbor. The center is helping Fisheries Department to document the details of loss.

Veerampattinam

Total Families: 1075

Population: 6264 (Male: 3081, Female: 3183)

3 persons died. One woman lost her life near the river (Veerampattinam) when she was taking food for her husband, and another two died in the next village when they were visiting their relatives.

57 launch boats, 44 fiber boats, 170 catamarans and 200 houses are lost.

On 27th December springs appeared in the tank of the Veerampattinam temple at 07.15 hours. Most of the children and people were assembled near the rank to witness the phenomenon. The first Tsunami attacked veerampattinam at 09.15 hours. Immediately panchayat leaders announced an evacuation through Public Address System. Tsunami attacked five times in this village. However due to the continuous alert announcement through public address system network, everyone moved to safe places. They also used this system for announcing relief measures provided by the Department of Fisheries.

Nallavadu

Total Families: 500

Population: 3630 (Males: 1959, Females: 1680)

200 catamarans and 150 houses are lost.

One of our ex-volunteers Mr.Vijayakumar is now working in Singapore. He saw the tsunami warning in Singapore and immediately phoned his home. That information spread through the entire street. He also phoned to the Knowledge Centre at 11.45. Another person Mr.Gopu also phoned to the center from abroad. At the time of tsunami attacks nearly 200 fishermen were in the sea. By Gods grace all of them are safe. Immediately they spread the information through public address system and blew the siren. Because of this nobody died in this village.

Moorthykuppam

Population: 1530 (Male: 680, Female: 850)

5 people are dead. 75 houses are washed out. MSSRF center is facilitating various relief measures.

75 catamarans, 15 fiber-boats and 150 houses are lost.

Following is the list of human loss and that of the missing ones due to tsunami on 26th December'2004 in Pondicherry coastal villages (As on 27th December'2004)

KC – Knowledge Center Villages

Sl.	Village	Loss of life			Missing			Remarks
No.		M	F	Total	M	F	Total

1	Periyaveerampattinam	0	3	3			0	KC
2	Pudukuppam			0	0		0
3	Chinnaveerampattinam			0			0
4	Pillaichavady		2	2	3	2	5
5	Periyakalapet		13	13			5	KC
6	Chinnakalapet	12		12			5
7	Kanagachettikulam	12		12		4	4
8	Vambakeerapalayam			0			0
9	Nallavadu			0			0	KC
10	Narambai			0			0
11	Pannithittu	1		1
12	Moorthikuppam	2	3	5			0	KC
13	Vaithikuppam			0			0
14	Kurusukuppam			0			0
15	Solaithandavankuppam			0			0
	Total at Pondicherry			46			19
	Total Fishermen at Karaikal			156				27-12-04
	Other Community at Karaikal			69
Male - M , Female - F

Total loss of lives in Pondicherry (Fishermen) - 46 Nos (Report as per 29-12-2004 Time 10 a.m)

Total Loss of lives in Karaikal-Fishermen and others -352 Nos as per 27-12-2004 report

In Pondicherry the Fisheries Department is providing 70 kgs of rice, some blankets and Rs,2000/- for each family for each family (as per ration card)

The following is the approximate cost of the equipment lost.

Launch Boat (1) - Rs.800, 000/-
Fibre Boat (1) - Rs.75000/-
Panu Net - Rs.20, 000/-
Pandha Net - Rs.15, 000/-
Kavala Net - Rs.25, 000/-
Kola Net - Rs.25, 000/-
Disco Net - Rs.10, 000/-
Iral Net - Rs.10, 000/-
Pasu Net - Rs. 20,000/-
Madha Net - Rs.70, 000/-

A Team consisting Dr.Ajay Parida, Dr.Selvam, Mr. Raman, Mr.Rajamanickam and Mr.Sendhilkumaran visited Nambiar Nagar (Nagapattinam). In this village the fishing community is facing heavy loss both of life and property. Also Water packets, medicines, clothes and blankets were handed over to the panchayat leaders.

Also Web page host Mr.Shankar, Saigan has arranged for rice, dhal and vessels etc. which were handed over to the panchayat leaders.

Mr. David, Fellow of National Virtual Academy also made arrangements for new clothes, biscuits and blankets from Rameswaram fishing community. Half of them were handed over to District Collector. The other half will be handed over to Nambiar Nagar Panchayat leaders.

Ms.Velvizhi, an MSSRF staff had organized the above. She belongs to the community and was visiting her family when the tragedy struck.

Immediate needs for water, biscuits, household vessels, dry foods, (rice and dhal) are being met. There is no further need for clothes. In the next few weeks the need will be for books, clothes and notebooks for school children, counseling for people, especially children in shock and special arrangements to take care for orphans.

MSSRF staff will be facilitating the communities to access the various support schemes already announced by the Government.

From Relief to Rehabilitation

In the long run, MSSRF proposes to work in partnership with the Government and other Non-governmental agencies to help in rehabilitation of communities especially in our areas of strength (developing info villages, community radio, Internet services, information about entitlements, software training to youth, wireless technologies, public address systems) and in developing and introducing alternative livelihoods, especially for young people and women, with focus on.

Visit : MSSRF Tsunami Report

1. Beyond Tsunami : Saving Lives and Livelihoods

2. Tsunami & Pichavaram Mangroves

3. Tsunami Rehabilitation Programmes