Remembering Tsunami after a decade and lessons learnt

Beautiful view from House

            When I joined DANICS (Delhi & Andaman & Nicobar Islands Civil Service) in late 70s my perception about the  Andaman & Nicobar Islands was limited to the geographic and historic data on Islands.Traditionally the probationers were taken for Bharat Darshan tour to the Islands but our batch missed the same. I got posted to Andamans about two decades later . The proximity to sea and the constant opportunity to travel in deep forests was an intoxicating experience. One year and Six months went away like dream savouring  the amazing natural beauty of the Islands.

Sea View from Port Blair Circuit House

Tsunami struck Andaman & Nicobar Islands on 26^th Dec.2004 . It was a once in a lifetime experience of exposure to a natural event which occurs not more than once in a century. Firstly the islands were struck by massive earthquake in early morning .

It's impact was so severe that several walls of our house developed  cracks. Seeing the cracks we decided to immediately move to a guest house . While we were loading our baggage in SUV the tsunami struck as a huge wall of water. Our home being at a distance of 200 meters from sea front was submerged in water and had we  started five minutes later we could have been submerged in the tidal waters .

Damages caused by waves

We escaped the deluge after the earthquake driving to nearby hillock through flooding waters which rose to around three feet very quickly.The waves struck our house minutes later,leaving behind smashed boundary wall and waters entering the lower floor of the house.

           

The grim realities of the disaster dawned on us about a day later when an emergency meeting was called at Raj Niwas and magnitude of the tragedy in Nicobar and other Islands came to be known to us. Within next twenty four hours an emergency task force was hastily put in motion to coordinate the relief and rescue operations which started in full swing.  Disaster Management support like National Disaster Response Force  was not available in those days. In subsequent three four days the Central Govt. took control.Next three months saw many developments relating to recovery and construction of shelters for displaced.

A relief camp at Kachal

The Andaman & Nicobar Administration   committed all resources for evacuation and rehabilitation of the displaced and badly traumatized population especially in Islands like Nicobar and Katchal where impact of the tragedy was most severe. The first earth quake with intensity of around 8.5 on ritcher scale was followed by thousands of after shocks  over next month-which is a normal occurrence in aftermath of an earthquake of this magnitude. After initial stage the crisis management was entrusted to an integrated relief command headed by senior officer of Indian Army.This set up included the Chief Secretary as well officers from various wings of Army,Airforce and Navy.

The crisis and it's follow up left in it's wake many lessons on crisis management,management of environment as well as survival techniques which could be of use in mitigation of suffering and ensuring survival in similar catastrophic situations. The first and foremost lesson was that while It is good to love nature but there is also a need to understand and respect  the nature. The Islands like any other part of the country have seen huge influx of migrants and also spurt in building activities. Some of the buildings are in dangerous proximity to sea. Over the years a feeling of complacence has grown about encroachment of coastal areas. People react with hostility to enforcement of  rule of law in such areas. But Tsunami has taught everyone  that mother nature is all-powerful. The mythological belief that sea has drawn it’s boundaries and it has to reclaim it’s territories from human beings for the sake of it’s own survival is true in practical life to considerable extent. Some of the houses located close to seaside were meant for people with influence and power but nature showed that it is more powerful than humans sweeping off everything in a matter of few seconds. Some of land tracks are now permanently covered with sea water showing that the sea has restored it's natural boundaries. Andamas are also considered to be ecologically fragile therefore in order to ensure survival of the islands and the life on it, the boundaries drawn by nature are to be respected.

 The second lesson was about the need for knowing your geographical facts and maintaining proper records of major geographical events . When tsunami struck the Islands hardly anyone knew what the word Tsunami meant. Tsunami is  a phenomenon where huge waves are generated due to seismic activities under the sea created by movement of tectonic plates. These waves carry force of several mega tonnes and wall of water moving at the speed of a jet plane breaks only on reaching the sea shore. On reaching the  shore initially a huge wall of water is formed and then water moves seawards  with such force that the seabed becomes exposed due to suction effect. When Tsunami struck there was no early warning mechanism in place. The fact that seismic disturbances of such magnitude are bound to be followed by Tsunami was not known to common population. People in a particular Island were amazed to see an exposed sea bed and got down to catch fish and other forms of sea life in the empty seabed. They had no inkling of the impending movement  of water backwards. After a few minutes the huge wall of water struck back again sending hundreds of persons to a watery grave instantly. 

Army Jawans offloading Material for Reconstruction

The ferocious nature of tidal waves breaking at the shore also prevented assistance by sea route for some period. The naval fleet which could have been the lifeline had to be moved away from the coast towards sea for safety. If these issues had been known to crisis mangers , the relief and rescue could also have been planned differently. It is probable that loss of lives could have been reduced. The lesson learnt was that in ecologically sensitive places like Andamans, dissemination of information on phenomenon like Tsunami needs to be widely encouraged. Hopefully now a days with evolution of professional style of Disaster Management,during a crisis of this nature the administration would be provided with  better outside support.

After Tsunami it came to be known that certain events of flooding in earlier parts of the history of Andamans could be related to Tsunami like phenomenon. Several important administrative structures  setup during British period at elevated places also bear testimony to the awareness about possibility of flooding of islands at the time of disasters. Proper documentation and awareness coupled with preventive safeguards would certainly mitigate the sufferings in case such disaster strikes again.
   

 At the time of Tsunami there were several tales of heroic survivors. One such instance was of an adolescent girl child who survived by swimming on back for long hours after being washed away by gigantic waves along with her parents and neighbors. The child had been taught survival skills by her parents in childhood and stayed afloat due to her perseverance. She saw relief planes flying overhead and took that direction for swim. When she managed to reach a deserted island she found that some serpents were also sticking to her but did not panic. The serpents quietly left her on reaching the landmass. The survival story was a lesson in itself. The child was rescued after being in sea for substantial period.The lesson was that while being stationed in proximity to sea knowledge of  survival skills on water is a big necessity.  Young and old can benefit in hour of crisis by such knowledge.

Consignment of relief supplies

The crisis management and relief and rehabilitation was a long drawn affair . But there were lessons to be drawn from the manner in which the crisis was handled. The most positive lesson was that at the time of crisis civilian authorities and the armed forced blended their resources magnificently. After initial state of shock and confusion the relief machinery got in motion in shortest possible time. The experience proved that a crisis of this magnitude some how binds human beings with different backgrounds together for over coming the challenges thrown up by nature.

            
During the period which followed the disaster a difficult part related to managing the supply of information to various Govt. agencies.  After the  several islands were without electricity , communication networks and other basic necessities. I got assigned to control room for compilation of various reports. After the Tsunami there was  an immense hunger for information in the media and at various levels of governance. Due to complete breakdown in communication channels , information had to be compiled through various means with great difficulty. The control room initially could prepare daily reports much later than midnight. Various Govt bodies had to be sent reports as per formats of their choice. Officers in field found reminders from Hqs for daily reports very annoying in difficult conditions . 

Many times reports were delayed or incomplete  inviting ire from intended receipient Govt. agencies. In retrospect it appears that there was perhaps absence of appreciation about difficulty of our task. It could be helpful in times of crisis of this magnitude that the minimum statistical information be sought in times when focus is on rescue and relief.

            
These are some of the lessons learnt from this crisis of unprecedented magnitude which caused loss of thousands of lives.  The list would however not be complete without referring to a very interesting fact about behaviour of Jarwas a primitive  tribe which is located in North Andamans .This tribe numbering around 2000 has been allowed to survive in isolation from modern civilization and is unique for it’s genetic purity. It came to be known after Tsunami that the Jarwas perhaps had read something in nature about the events which were to unfold. They had moved away from coastal areas in advance and there were no Tsunami related causalities in Jarwas ! Lesson learnt was that Tribals have evolved or managed to retain mankind’s early warning system for natural calamities and we have many things to learn from Tribes.

Another important feature of rehabilitation which reflects wisdom of tribal institutions was the treatment of orphaned children in Nicobar Islands.In these Island there is a system of community living in villages. The children who lost their parents were considered responsibility of entire community and adopted by it.Hence there were no orphans or destitutes in the Nicobar Islands after Tsunami.

Educational Activities in relief camp

The Post Tsunami relief and rehab operations also bear a testimony to the fighting spirit of mankind.Within a few weeks after relief and reconstruction activities started , the local population got down to the task  of rebuilding their lives. In coming days there was huge response from the entire country for assistance in various ways. Spread of water borne diseases was 

Children in relief camp

prevented by rigorous monitoring through Central agencies who set up static and mobile surveillance posts . Educational activities and skill development training was continued in the camps and the children were duly cared for being the survivors who would pass on the message to future generations.

 Glimpse of Andaman Trunk Road