When Tsunami struck in 2004,  no one seemed to have heard it before. Therefore no one anticipated it when it struck by surprise. I happen to be in a Tsunami struck coastal area and I was here when the Tsunami struck four years back.  On the day before i.e., on December 25 th 2004, I went to a nearby place to attend a function and returned late in the night.  I had earlier sent away my family so I was alone.  The next day was a Sunday morning- a holiday.  At around 9.15 A.M , I had taken bath and was towelling my hair  when I noticed water flowing into the house . The door was locked from inside. Mine is a ground floor house and water sometimes used to seep into my house from the first- floor  house just above me.  I made a mental note to ask the first-floor resident as to why the water was coming into my house telling him to stop the flow.   At that time there were shouts  outside the door.  I looked outside through the peep-hole-people of my residentail complex were running helter-skelter.     Some two feet of water was seen outside.  Still I  thought it might have rained and the rain water has gathered since it used to rain every now and then here.  There was a sound similar to a running grinder motor.  Therefore it was somewhat confusing.  Hurriedly changing into clothes, I came out of the house to enquire what was happening.  At that time, the water level has receded.  A resident of the complex told me that sea level was raising and coming into the area.  Why at all sea should come in was the first question that came to my mind.  Sea was roaring someone told again. Immediately we all climed to the roof-top of the building. The sea and the beach came into  view. Normally the waves would come, touch the shore and retreat.  But that day the waves were still coming at a height and landing into the shore  fillng it with water. Anyone who had a look at it might have been frightened.  If the waves went on like this the entire sea shore would be filled with water and come into the areas beyond.  Our area was on a raising ground and normally water will flow out quickly and will not stagnate.  Also our area is about 150 metres away from the back waters. Sea and sea-shore were still some distance away at around 100 metres.  That totally made quarter mile.  Given the state the sea was in, even the quarter mile distance appeared unsafe. I could sense a spine chilling panic climbing  into me.

      I noticed that the electricity was cut off. Some one told that the transformer was uprooted and electrcity was cut off in the entire vicinity. 

     Meanwhile  someone returned from outside after going into the bazaar. He told that the sea water has flowed into the street and coming behind as he was cycling.  He pedalled at furious speed from geting trapped by the pursuing sea.  The road outside front gate of the complex was filled with boats, fishing nets and debris. I noticed people were coming through the back gate since it was still farther away from sea and relatively safe.  Someone advised not to go out alone.  I was anxious to go out to see what was happening still I was nervous to go out.

      After some time,  I went out through the rear gate.  When I came to the bazaar area I saw many people standing there.  One person told me that he managed to escape since he had come away to the bazaar area.  He was searching for his sons.  He told some 2000 to 3000 people have died.  It seemed unbelievable.  Just half an hour action and so many people have died.

    I returned to the residence only to find people urging every one to get out stating that more of what we had seen will happen again. There was no electricity and it seemed a permanant distruption given the chaos. So deciding to get out, I transferred valuable belongings like computer, TV and books to the second storey house lying vacant with someone's help, packed off and left. Being a full-moon day the sea's Force was feared to be ferocious in the night. I was lucky to get a van even as everyone seemed to have run away. When I reached my place it was late night. I told my people a thing called Tsunami struck as I have already read about it generating palm-tree high waves and wreaking enormous destruction.

     The next day the story was out in the newspapers- Tsunami strikes killing several thousands.

     What unfolded in the aftermath is a story to tell. Since I happened to be a witness I propose to tell you the same in the next part.

Kandasamy Mohan.