Tsunami hit survivors lead an uncertain life three years on

Three years after the deadly tsunami ravaged the southeast Indian coast, claiming thousands of lives, survivors of the tragedy in Chennai are still trying to forget the scars left behind by the killer waves.

Karikattukuppam/Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu), Dec 26 : Three years after the deadly tsunami ravaged the southeast Indian coast, claiming thousands of lives, survivors of the tragedy in Chennai are still trying to forget the scars left behind by the killer waves.

Karikattukuppam village, which is around 45 km from Chennai, is being perceived as a ghost town, post tsunami. Its streets are deserted, houses are locked and its residents feel insecure about their future.

Staying in makeshift houses just kilometres away from the beach, the villagers continue to search for a safe permanent abode.

"We do not have good facilities. It is not safe to live here in Karikaatukuppam. Sea erosion is taking place continuously. There is a lack of medical facilities. We do not want to live here. We have asked the government to give us houses to live in," said Thangamani, a resident.

Around 200 km away at Devanampatinam in Cuddalore district hundreds of children orphaned in Tsunami disaster are living in a special care centre.

The children are being given computer education, yoga lessons, dance, songs and are being trained in job oriented vocational courses like tailoring.

"I lost my father long back. My mother died due to tsunami waves. When I joined this place, I was worried because there were very few of us. Now, there are so many children and all of us learn computers and many other things together," said Vedanayaki.

Over 7,000 people were washed away in Tamil Nadu by the December 26, 2004 Tsunami.

ANI