Fishermen pay tribute to tsunami victims in Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari districts

Fishermen in Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari districts pay tribute to 2004 tsunami victims on memorial day.

On the occasion of tsunami memorial day, fishermen from coastal hamlets of Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari districts paid homage to those who lost their lives in the 2004 tsunami.

A massive undersea earthquake off the coast of Indonesia triggered one of the most dangerous tsunamis on December 26, 2004. The impact of the tsunami devastated the eastern coastal areas of India and in Tamil Nadu there was a significant loss of life and property due to the disaster.

Marking the 20th anniversary of the natural disaster, a tribute event was held at Threspuram beach in Thoothukudi. Fishermen poured milk into the sea and offered flowers.

In Kanniyakumari district, special prayer services were organised in churches of coastal hamlets. In Kottilpadu, around 700 fishermen participated in a silent procession organised in memory of 119 people who died in the tsunami.

Agnes Mary, a resident from Kottilpadu, who lost her four children said, “The memories of the disaster are still fresh and cannot be forgotten in this lifetime.”

Fr. Churchil, who led the procession and prayer meeting in Kottilpadu, requested the government to restore the AVM channel which had not undergone any restoration since the tsunami. He also requested the government to implement a better weather alert system to prevent such deadly disasters in future.

In Manakudy, Kanniyakumari, Muttam and in other coastal villages, fishermen lit candles at the tsunami memorial tomb and paid homage to the victims.