Ten years on from the 2004 tsunami: Remembering India-Sri Lanka solidarity
Monday, 29 December 2014 00:13
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
On 26 December 2004, an earthquake off the coast of Indonesia triggered a series of devastating tsunamis that struck 14 countries across the Indian Ocean, and caused one of the biggest humanitarian disasters in living memory.
Thousands of people in India and Sri Lanka were among the victims of this disaster. The 10th anniversary of that terrible tragedy is a fitting occasion to remember the victims and recall how it demonstrated the solidarity between the two countries.
Indians in various parts of the country were severely affected by the killer tidal waves of the 2004 Tsunami, and the Government of India launched a massive relief effort. Notwithstanding this large domestic relief effort, Government of India was happy to respond immediately to the request from the Government of Sri Lanka for assistance.
Government of India launched “Operation Rainbow” to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to those affected by the tsunami, in consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka. Lasting over two and a half months, this remains the largest relief operations undertaken by India outside the country. Operating from the Indian High Commission in Colombo, a 24x7 Control Room was established the same day as the tsunami struck.
Within hours of Sri Lanka requesting India for assistance, Indian ships and aircraft arrived with relief material and supplies, and were the first foreign vessels to reach Trincomalee and Galle. A total of 14 Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships were pressed into action.
Air support was provided by numerous aircrafts and helicopters of the Indian Air Force and India Navy for locating and rescuing survivors, retrieving dead bodies, positioning medical teams and supplies, air dropping food and relief supplies and for situation assessment reconnaissance. Indian relief teams were deployed at Galle, Trincomalee, Ampara, Batticaloa, Tangalle, Hambantota, Embilipitiya and Minneriya.
An important focus of Indian effort was medical assistance to thousands of victims. The first Indian medical team reached Sri Lanka the day of the tsunami, and it assisted the Sri Lankan Army in the safe disposal of dead bodies. In addition to medical teams operating from the Indian ships and from Galle, mobile medial teams were deployed to various relief camps in remote areas and district hospitals.
The Indian Army’s Field Ambulance set up medical camps in coordination with the local civil and military heath authorities. Preventive medication, vaccination, health lectures, cleaning of drinking water wells, fumigation of refugee camps and living areas by medical teams ensured that no communicable diseases broke out or spread.
Specialised Disaster Relief Teams from the Indian armed forces undertook underwater inspection of 17 railway bridges between Bentota and Matara and assisted in construction of a 350-foot Bailey bridge at Arugam Bay to restore road connectivity. Indian Navy undertook detailed hydrographic surveys in Galle, Trincomalee, Colombo and Kankesanturai harbours to provide updated charts of these harbours to the Sri Lankan authorities following changes to the topography of the seabed in affected harbours due to the tsunami.
Once the immediate relief efforts were concluded, the focus shifted to longer term rehabilitation and reconstruction. The Colombo-Matara rail link, which was destroyed by the tsunami, was rebuilt and upgraded by an Indian company IRCON, and locomotives and coaches were provided by another Indian company RITES, under a $ 167.4 million concessional Line of Credit extended by Government of India. The Project also included setting up of a maintenance facility and proving training to personnel of Sri Lankan Railways, and was completed before schedule.
A delegation of Sri Lankan Parliamentarians visited India to study the disaster management set up. Sri Lankan officials involved in rehabilitation from tsunami affected districts visited some of the tsunami affected areas in India in order to gain first-hand knowledge of rehabilitation and reconstruction. Similarly, a team of senior officials from Tamil Nadu visited Sri Lanka and exchanged suggestions and ideas with Sri Lankan officials from some of the tsunami affected districts.
The cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami is testimony to the special relationship that the two countries enjoy. Ten years on, it is heartening to see that the affected communities have been able rebuild their lives and start afresh. Lessons learned continue to influence and improve how the world responds to disasters today.
India has taken numerous steps since 2004 to enhance its own early warning systems and improve disaster preparedness, and has also coordinated such efforts both bilaterally and multilaterally. India looks forward to continue to work with the Government of Sri Lanka in these areas.
