On December 26, ten years ago, a wall of water rose from the Bay of Bengal, and smashed its way into the city, flooding coastal areas.
An unprecedented number of people — 131 — were reported dead in the city on that fateful Sunday, according to The Hindu . Chennai in comparison to the rest of the State had escaped the fury of the seas, but only relatively speaking. Fishing communities that live along the beaches say that the day’s memories continue to haunt them.
Speaking to The Hindu on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the tragedy, 35-year-old Devi of Nochikuppam says, “I still remember that morning. We were selling fish by the beach as usual and suddenly we could hear voices telling us to run. When I looked back, there was water, high and close. I dropped everything, took my child and ran.”
The tsunami swept everything that came in its way. Bagyalakshmi, 30, recalls, “We lost our boats, our nets, our shops, and all our belongings. The water came up to the road where the Lighthouse stands. ”
A decade since, does the fear linger? Kannima of Srinivasapuram says, “I was very afraid when it happened. I didn’t come back for months. Life goes on, but whenever I think about that day, fear grips me.”
For some, coping has meant turning to faith. Shanti, who mans a fish stall, says, “We make an offering of milk to the sea every anniversary in the hope that it remains calm.”
M. Kanthimathi who owns a small grocery shop by the sea, exudes a resilience of spirit. She says, “I am not afraid. We have seen the worst of the elements. There have been lashing rains, powerful cyclones and even a tsunami, and yet we still stand here. I feel we can handle anything.”
