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Last Updated: Wednesday, 16 February, 2005, 11:01 GMT

Tsunami villagers give thanks to trees

 

By Sunil Raman

BBC News, Tamil Nadu

 

 

In 2002, a village in India's Tamil Nadu state planted 80,244 saplings to enter

the Guinness World Records book.

 

 

Little did they realise at the time that the trees would save their lives.

When the tsunami roared into the coast of southern India on 26 December many

villages and towns were crushed as the giant waves swept across open beaches.

 

But the people of Naluvedapathy in Vedaranyam district, south of the Tamil

Nadu's worst affected areas around Nagapattinam, remained almost unscathed.

 

Mini-forest

 

Unlike other coastal areas in Tamil Nadu, Naluvedapathy is shielded by a

kilometre-thick tree cover.

 

 

 

Tell others to plant trees

Marimathu, villager

 

Casuarina, coconut and other varieties of trees have turned the place into a

mini-forest.

Walking towards the sea, you can hear the crashing waves but not see them.

 

 

Only after walking through a considerable amount of thick vegetation do you

reach the Bay of Bengal.

 

 

The village has about 600 houses but suffered minimal damage and few deaths.

More than 10,000 people were killed in India.

 

 

Villagers talk animatedly about how water engulfed the area.

 

In spite of being located on a higher elevation, the huge waves flooded their

homes, paths and farms.

 

But the thousands of trees helped break the impact.

 

Trembling

 

 

Nagappan, an old farmer, says the village has always had trees but the numbers

increased vastly when the local administration sold the idea to villagers to

create a world record three years ago.

 

 

" We were saved by these trees. Other coastal villages should also create a tree

cover for their safety, " he says.

 

Seventy-year-old Marimathu trembles as she recalls the events of 26 December.

 

" I was on a hilltop and saw this giant wave come towards the shore... I managed

to run to safety but this place was inundated with water. "

 

She adds: " Trees have been planted over a period of time by my grandparents and

others. I have been in this village all through my life but this tree cover

expanded in the last 15 years.

 

" Tell others to plant trees, " says Marimathu.

 

 

A stretch of coast near Kanyakumari with its sandbanks, an area near

Nagapattinam with its mangroves and another near Pondicherry with green cover

protected some other villagers from the wrath of the tsunami.

 

But Naluvedapathy had enough protection for the entire village.

 

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/4269847.stm

 

Published: 2005/02/16 11:01:30 GMT

 

© BBC MMV

 

 

 

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