All India Disaster Mitigation Institute, India

"We had heard about tidal waves in the sea. The coastal area has turned into a graveyard. The landscape has changed in many areas forever." - Mr. Nathaniya in Andamans ||||| "I saw it, with my eyes. The land separated in two parts. People just died. It is still horrible to remember. I had never seen it before. Now I see it everyday, in fact at Car Nicobar no one has seen this behaviour of sea before. We are living with sea since ages here." - Johnson in Andamans. ||||| "Nobody knew what was coming. We just saw a wall of water coming towards us. We had no option. We ran towards forest. Those who managed survived, those who failed, went away with the seawater. Fortunately I survived with my family. The Indian Air Force rescued me after two days. I spent these two days in forest with my elder son. Now I received the news about my younger son who is only nine months and safe with my mother in law." -Estervelina in Andamans ||||| "We, here inside Chennai, are not much affected but our friends in the other rural parts are severely affected. We have collected more than 4000 pairs of clothes and have distributed 400 in three relief camps. Our neighbours received them with thanks. But NGOs came and there was flood of clothes. Neighbours do not want our clothes. We would be thankful if the remaining clothes can be distributed to the affected communities in the far off Nagapattinum or Cuddlore. May be they also have too many clothes." - Sundervardhani and Laxmi in Chennai |||||

Early Relief
AIDMI Team in Tsunami Affected Coastal India on December 30, 2004.

Fresh warning evacution Thiruvottiyur, Chennai. December 30 at 1300 hours.	Fresh warning evacution December 30 at 1330 hours at St. Paul school at Thiruvottiyur.	Fresh warning evacution December 30 at 1330 hours at St. Paul school at Thiruvottiyur.
Need assessment by Deepeshbhai for next morning food for the Palagai Thottai Kuppam, Ambattur Taluka Thiruvallur Dist. Thiruthiruvottiyur, Chennai.	Volunteers managing food relief distribution at their own at Ambattur Taluka Thiruvallur Dist. Thiruthiruvottiyur, Chennai.	AIDMI team received lot of cloths from the local people. These clothes are distributed at Ambattur Taluka Thiruvallur Dist. Thiruthiruvottiyur, Chennai.
Sorting clothes in a systematic manner can ensure its use.	Focus was made on poor, vulnerable, aged, women and children during the distribution at Ambattur Taluka Thiruvallur Dist. Thiruthiruvottiyur, Chennai.	Supply of drinking water with the tanker was coordinated with the municpality at Ambattur Taluka Thiruvallur Dist. Thiruthiruvottiyur, Chennai.
Systemetic dissemination of relief at Ambattur Taluka Thiruvallur Dist. Thiruthiruvottiyur, Chennai.	Local women leaders distributing food relief to victim women as a priority.	AIDMI team taking special care of small kids for food. Bhuvaneshwariben is feeding her son Ganeshkumar.
Traditional breakfast 'idli' was found very suitable by the community.	While community is managing food for elders, need of children and women may not be covered well.	We are waiting for some food. Is it coming?
Respect is ensured for elders. Lady first helped her father to wash hands and then eat.	Age, poor and vulnerability: all together. What a relief if some help is organised?	Almost 60 traditional huts on the coast are destroyed with the impact of tsumani. They need to be rebuilt now.
We want to take shelter before thinking about work.	Fresh and hot food after days.	This is our damaged livelihood. When will we go again to catch the fish and feed the children?
While the disaster relief operations are on, the regular work of government is also restored for sea protection.