Reports of tsunami strike keep officials on tenterhooks

begin:vcard
fn:Sudarshan Rodriguez
n:Rodriguez;Sudarshan
org:UNDP-GoI Post- Tsunami Environment Initiative
adr:Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur,;;Flat 2B, Adithya Apartments,38 Balakrishna Road,;Chennai;Tamil Nadu;600041;India
email;internet:sudarshanr@yahoo.com
title:Marine Conservation Analyst
tel;work:+91 44 420 19470
tel;fax:+91 44 420 19468
tel;home:+91 44 420 19470
tel;cell:+91 9840680127
note;quoted-printable:You are not what you do , you do what you are=0D=0A=
One's profession and career should be their hobby, passion and cause
version:2.1
end:vcard

Tuesday July 18 2006 00:00 IST

CUDDALORE: The entire official machinery in the coastal town, on Monday, was on tenterhooks following television reports of a possible tsunami strike in the coastal region following an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale near Indonesia this afternoon.

District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi alerted police, revenue, fire and rescue services and civic officials and directed them to camp at coastal hamlets.

The news of a possible tsunami strike was flashed in private television channels, including NDTV, from 3 pm onwards. Initially, a Hawai-based research organisation predicted a tsunami strike in the Indian Ocean following the quake.

Speaking to this website's newspaper, Bedi said, ‘‘Officials have been deputed to the 50 coastal hamlets soon after an alert from this website's newspaper. The government has not issued any warning to the district administration in this regard.’’

However, the Collector had alerted Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar, Chidambaram Sub-Collector Arun Roy, DSPs and tahsildars.

Officials of all departments had been deputed at the coastal hamlets and asked to remain there till further orders. They were advised not to created panic among the people by issuing a tsunami warning. They were also told not to initiate any evacuation work at the coastal habitations.

It may be noted that the coastal region was devastated by the tsunami on December 26, 2004, killing nearly about 650 persons, including a large number of children.

Jayakumar, a resident of Devanampattinam, said, ‘‘People living along the coast have gained sufficient knowledge on disaster mitigation management. Unfazed by the warning life went on as usual in the region.’’

Based on the Collector’s direction, the police prevented the public from visiting the Silver Beach in the district headquarters. However, normal life in the coastal town remained unaffected on Monday and waves continued to caress the coast as gently as ever.

Note created Jul 18, 2006

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