Tuesday, January 4 2005 10:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Nagapattinam (TN): For the first time after the December 26 Tsunami devastation in the coastal district of Tamil Nadu, fishermen set sail to fish this morning (Jan 4, 2005).

In a bid to instil confidence among the panic-stricken fishermen of Akkaraipettai, which housed over 7,000 fishermen families, the Army repaired some of their large fishing boats and went along with them in the seas this morning.

The Bangalore based MEG (Madras Engineering Group) of the Army undertook repairs on three boats in which the fishermen set on sail this morning, Thanjavur district Collector J Radhakrishnan, who was supervising the relief operations in the most affected village told reporters.

He said, "We have completed relief work and will now concentrate on rehabilitation. We want the cooperation of the people in this programme. That is why we repaired the boats and encouraged fishermen to go on their routine. Their response is encouraging," he said.

Akkaraipettai village, a suburb of Nagapattinam, which was unreachable for over two days after the tsunami struck as boats blocked the traffic and a bridge connecting the village with Nagapattinam collapsed, is only now limping back to normalcy.

The Army swung into operation to restore the roads, electricity and repairing the boats in this village and Keechankuppam, a fisherman hamlet of the village. Both these places were prosperous ones before the tsunami struck as the fishermen had a good catch of prawn and some rare variety of fish.

The fish market in Keechamkuppam is famous and merchants from all over the country would converge here to purchase 'Karnuvadu' (Dry fish), used to make pickles.

"Every month, we use to sell dry fish to the tune of Rs one crore. All our stocks are now washed away and it will take another two to three months to come to normal business," Marimuthu, a leading fish trader said.

Over 2500 people were killed in Akkaraipettai and Keechankuppam villages in the December 26 tsunami strike.