Saturday, January 1 2005 13:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Keezputhupattu (TN): Even as hundreds of Tsunami-hit villages across the Tamil Nadu mourn the death of their near and dear ones, Keezputhupattu, a small fishing hamlet near Pondicherry, has some reasons to cheer on the New Year day.

About 20 boys, who had been missing after Tsunami waves hit this village, have returned safely. "The boys were playing cricket on the beach when the Tsunami waves hit the village. They had been missing since then," said Dr P A Sampathkumar, coordinator, Chain in Asian Christian Studies at Pondicherry University, who takes evening classes for the kids in Keezputhupattu (TN).

It now appears that the boys all children of fishermen, jumped in the air when the killer waves hit the beach, and were thrown back to the land. "The scarred kids ran to the roads and took the first bus," he said. Children are allowed free bus travel in Tamil Nadu.

"For two days there was no information about the kids. On the third day, we got a call from Kilinur, about 25 kms from here, informing that the kids were stranded there, Sampathkumar, who is also in-change of a small church in the village, said.