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| What is a Tsunami? | | | Aftermath | | | Our Relief Work | | | How can I help? |
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| Damages to environments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The
tsunami had inflicted severe damage on ecosystems such as mangroves,
coral reef, forests, coast wetlands, vegetation, sand dunes and rock
formation, animal and plant biodiversity and ground water. Unaccountable wells that served communities were invaded by sea, sand and earth. Acres of paddy fields, mango and banana plantation were destroyed. An estimated 30,000 people are rendered homeless in the Union territory of Pondicherry. The death tool is 560. The State of Tamilnadu has been worst affected with a death toll of 7793. |
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Those killed in Kanyakumari included pilgrims taking bath in the seas. About 700 people were trapped at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial off Kanyakumari. The death toll at Velankanni in Nagapattinam district is 1500, most of these people were on a visit to the Church of Basilica the Virgin Mary for Christmas, while the others were residents. Among all the districts Nagapattinam was worst hit. Nagapattinam is a unique district with all its historical and cultural significance. It is a land of communal harmony which was carved out by bifurcating Thanjavur district in 1991. This district was known as Thanjvaur east and also the paddy granary of South India. This district has a coast line of 187.9 kms which includes a stretch of 30 kms in Karaikkal district. This district has a number of historical important places. Nagapattinam is an old port town. Nagapattinam is having an area of 2715.83 kms. It is generally an agriculture district depending upon Cavery water besides having fishermen community along the entire coastal line. It has a population of 14,87,055 of which 7,38,287 are male and 7,48,762 are female. |
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It has two famous shrines – the Darga of Nagore Andavar at Nagore and Our Lady of Good Health at Velankanni. Tranquebar is the attraction of Danish architecture and Danish fort, built in 1620 is still standing tall even after the tsunami exhibiting its fury. Immediately after the devastating effect of the tsunami on 26th December 2004 the people and the government rose up to the occasion and their services were geared up in all the costal towns and villages for immediate rescue and relief operations.There are more than 80 relief centres. The worst hit by the tsunami were women and children. Many children have been rendered orphans and yet many of them are kept in childrens home, while some of them have been adopted. Since tsunami hit the coastal line the fishermen have suffered the most. Along with them were the sufferers of the work linked to fishing, such as marketing, repairing of boats and small groceries. The fishermen say that they never thought the sea waves could do such a harsh and nasty thing to them. They are now afraid to even go near the sea. It is difficult to convince those who have lost all their people and whatever they owned. |
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