Tamil Nadu remembers 2004 tsunami victims

A large number of people in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu paid tribute to the victims of the 2004 tsunami in the state on MondayPeople living along the shoreline from Chennai to Kanyakumari took out silent processions to the beach and paid tearful homage by pouring milk into the sea and sprinkling flowersOn the fateful morning of December 26 2004 an earthquake in the Indian Ocean near the island of Sumatra in Indonesia triggered a tsunami that killed thousands of people Several fishermen and a large number of civilians who had gone to Velankanni to celebrate Christmas died due to the disasterIn Nagapattinam district where about 6065 people died fisherfolk accompanied by public traders and political party members took out a massive procession and paid tribute at Akkaraipettai Many children were orphaned and in certain cases parents had lost their children during the tsunamiOn the occasion of the 18th anniversary fishermen of Cuddalore Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari too paid tribute by pouring milk into the sea and sprinkling flowersAlso read Basavaraj Bommai to travel to Delhi to discuss cabinet expansion and poll preparations with BJP high commandAt Nagore tributes were paid at the mass burial site on the land owned by the dargah At several places candles were lit and banners and hoardings containing the photos of the victims were put up according to president of South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association Ku BharathiWe cannot forget the ghastly tragedy that claimed several hundreds of lives 18 years ago Today our members decided to keep away from the sea to pay tribute to the victims Bharathi saidDMK Legislator representing the Mylapore Assembly constituency Dha Velu and Principal secretary Cooperation Food and Consumer Protection Department Dr J Radhakrishnan joined hundreds of people in a procession at Nochikuppam here carrying pots of milk in their hands which they emptied later at the Marina beachRadhakrishnan who was Collector of Nagapattinam district which faced the brunt of tsunami had then adopted a 4year old girl Sowmya who lost her parents due to the calamity He had fostered her over the years and in February this year Radhakrishnan solemnised her marriageNo one expected the tsunami The waves struck with such a velocity that the impact could be felt throughout the coastal region of Tamil Nadu said VeluPrior to arriving to Nochikuppam for the event his car met with an accident when it collided with a tourist coach None were injured in the mishap Though the front portion of car in which he was travelling was damaged an unruffled Radhakrishnan got down from the car and regulated the traffic that got disrupted because of the accidentAt Kasimedu here former AIADMK minister D Jayakumar accompanied by his party members paid floral tributes and poured milk into the sea Later speaking to reporters he said former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa then took up rehabilitation measures on a war footing and won the appreciation from several quartersThe fishermen wing of the BJP too paid floral tributes to the tsunami victimsNagapattinam Collector Arun Thamburaj and Poompuhar Collector R Lalitha too were among the officials who laid wreaths at the tsunami memorialThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever