Anand Babu wrote:
I just realized Ramanraj's house is near the beach. I tried calling him a couple of times and got no response. Can someone reach him and confirm us if he safe and needed any help?
AB, thanks. We were lucky to survive the Tsunami that has wrecked severe damage along the coast, but gave the opportunity to again realise that nothing is more valuable than life, the rights and freedoms we could carry with us all the time.
Many people, whole hamlets at many places, fishermen in particular, who live life on the beaches, have lost lives, their dear ones, and their homes. Nature's fury is something we may have to sometimes accept and live with, but man made disasters are the most unacceptable ones. All of us need to do serious introspection, and find ways to overcome such calamities. The earthquake occured around 7 am on Sunday morning, and the Tsunami waves took nearly 2 hours to hit the shores here around 9 am. Ample time was available to issue warnings, but nothing of that kind happened. Even after the Tsunami hit, at most places only confusion reigned, and worse, instead of moving away from the sea shore, many people rushed to the danger to take a closer look at the disaster. Moving away from the shore was what most sites advised, and we shifted to a friend's place. Life along the coastlines have drasticly changed in few minutes time.
Many of the constructions along the coast fell, causing casualies. It is probably not practical or possible to build structures that can withstand Tsunami waves 10ft high, and warning people about the danger is the most important thing that could save lives. Sivasankar's mail to ilugc on this issue had a response from James Lick jlick@drivel.com
<quote>
[Ilugc] OT: Automated Tsunami warning script/program ?] I have a script to pull data for Taiwan from the Central Weather Bureau web site: http://jameslick.com/twquake/
I also send out automated email warnings in English and Chinese of quakes here: http://www.tcp.com/mailman/listinfo/twquake-alert-en
</quote>
To send in contributions, please visit: http://www.tn.gov.in/misc/cmprf2003.htm
<quote>
The Contribution may be sent either by * cash * or * cheque* or * Demand Draft * drawn * in favour of* *"CHIEF MINISTER'S PUBLIC RELIEF FUND"* addressed to :* The Joint Secretary to Government and Treasurer, Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund, Finance Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009. *
*</quote> *
*Thanks, Ramanraj. *