Friday, December 26, 2025, marks the 21st anniversary of the Tsunami triggered by a 9.1-magnitude undersea earthquake caused by a rupture along the fault line demarcating the Indian and Burma plates. The tsunami affected more than 14 countries across the globe.
The earthquake lasted for nearly 10 minutes, and the tsunami wave rose up to 30 metres in height.
Of the 4500-km stretch of the Indian coastline affected by the disaster, Tamil Nadu was the worst affected, with over 7993 lives lost, and 123,105 houses destroyed.
Coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, including, Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Kanyakumari faced the wrath of the disaster.
A paper titled Analytical study of living environment in Tsunami-affected areas of Tamil Nadu highlighted that the Tsunami exposed the vulnerability of the fishing community on the TN coast.
Essential fishing gear, like nets, was destroyed. Over 31,000 catamarans made of wood and fibre reinforced plastic, 8140 small boats and over 1000 mechanised boats suffered massive damage.
With almost all non-engineered huts washed away, and semi-engineered houses facing heavy damage, several fishermen were rendered homeless in a matter of hours.
The paper highlighted that in Devanampattinam, Nagapattinam, and Vailankanni, more than 75 per cent of the houses were damaged.
Exemplary architecture and culturally rich buildings like the shrine of Mother Mary at Velankanni, several churches at Kanyakumari, suffered damage.
Notably, the historic Danish fort in Nagapattinam, built in 1620 A.D., remained untouched; the strong stone fort wall saved this iconic site.
In remembrance of the lives lost to tsunami, people gathered at the beaches and offered milk and flowers to the sea.
People from the affected villages in Tamil Nadu also held silent processions.
Commemorations were held, and floral tributes were paid in memorials in Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari, Cuddalore, and Chennai.
In Tuticorin, fishermen gathered on the coast and paid their respects and held a commemoration later.
At Vedaranyam, the AIADMK cadres led by former minister O.S. Manian paid floral tributes to the Tsunami victims at Arokattuthurai.
At Pattinampakkam-Srinivasapuram beach in Chennai, BJP leaders joined the people in observance and offered milk to the sea.
It's been 21 years since the disaster, and the devastation it caused to the buildings and boats is undone. But the wave of memory keeps hitting the people who lost their loved ones to the disaster, not just today, but every day!
(With additional inputs from PTI)