Sunday, January 9 2005 16:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Car Nicobar: For the people of this tsunami-ravaged island still to recover from the aftershocks of nature's fury, he brought hope for a future that looked bleak to them.

Setting a punishing schedule, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set out from Chennai early morning for Port Blair on Saturday (Jan 8, 2005) -- the message to his officials was he wanted to have a first-hand account of the extent of damage.

More importantly, he wanted to hear from the victims their problems and expectations. And hence, he wanted to visit as many relief camps as possible.

Landing at the Car Nicobar airbase, the first sight that greeted him adjacent to the runway was a line of tents, the temporary shelter for the Defence personnel. The runway, a portion of which still has debris strewn over, has been made functional only for AN-32 flights and other small aircraft.

Nearby, the Air Force officers' housing complex lies in a shambles. An officer points out to a damaged VVIP guesthouse, saying Atal Bihari Vajpayee had stayed there when he had visited the islands as Prime Minister.

December 26, the 'Black Sunday', was like any other bright morning. The officers were out jogging along the beach or playing games when waves came a little closer than usual, recalled an officer. The water then receded and no one took further notice.

Minutes later, when the waves started roaring back and quickly gained height, the panic buttons were pressed. But things happened so fast leaving very little time to run to safety, said an Air Force officer.

Lifted by the speeding waves, a Maruti Esteem lay smashed in the lush green forests in the complex. Most of the coconut trees survived nature's fury.

In two buildings, it looked as if the first floors have been sliced and kept on ground.

Many of the Air Force personnel and their family members figure on the missing list and efforts to trace them are continuing at a hectic pace. 21 survivors were detected in the last few days, raising hopes of some more who could have been stranded in the dense forests and awaiting evacuation.

According to official estimates, about 500 persons perished and there is no trace of an equal number.

Armed Forces praised:

Singh had a special word of praise for the Armed Forces for "responding magnificently to the challenge" confronting them and in taking a leading role in reaching relief supplies to the victims and helping in the rehabilitation process.

Spontaneously, the men in uniform lined up the tarmac leading to the aircraft to meet the Prime Minister who had a word of encouragement. "The country is proud of all of you," he said.

Driving to a relief camp giving shelter to over 1300 tribal Nicobaris, Singh learnt that the entire Malakka village bore the brunt of the tsunami wrath.

Huddled together, agony writ large on their face, Singh explained that the nation was with them in this hour of grief.

He assured them that the necessary resources would be mobilised to rehabilitate them.

Singh's message was that Centre would extend all possible assistance to help the victims start their lives anew.

For the families of each of those killed in the tsunami disaster, the Prime Minister said Rs one lakh would be given from the Prime Minister's Relief fund.

Visits the tribes:

Driving through the thick forests, Singh visited the relief camp at Kakana village. For the tribals, it was a healing touch.

When pointed out that the educated tribals had lost all source of livelihood, Singh responded spontaneously saying the freeze on Government could be waived for Andaman and Nicobar Islands to provide succour to the educated unemployed in the affected areas.

Directions were also given on the spot to expedite setting up of temporary shelters, ensuring uninterrupted supplies of rations and drinking water besides making available medicines and para-medical staff.

In his hectic schedule that involved nearly 11 hours of flying, Singh toured Campell Bay, another worst-hit tsunami island. Kusum, a teacher from Uttaranchal, told the Prime Minister about the difficulties faced by pregnant women who were unable to get proper medical treatment.

Many settlers from Punjab, which included a large number of ex-servicemen and their families, lamented that they had lost everything they had made in the last 35 years.

Immediate relief and compensation and subsequent relocation to their home States were sought by them. Similar was the view of settlers from Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Kerala.

With folded hands, Paramjit Kaur pleaded with the Prime Minister to see that her family was re-settled in Punjab. "We don't want to stay here anymore. We have lost all we have earned in the last three decades."

An emotional Singh, who patiently heard the woes of the victims, assured them "we will do everything possible. Don't lose hope".

The fishing community had their own problems. Several fishermen have been killed and for many others their vessels destroyed.

With a soothing hand here and a pat there, Singh said all avenues will be explored to get them new boats or make arrangements for repairing the ones that have been partially damaged.

"I see sorrow and pain on the faces of so many people," Singh later said adding the immediate focus would be on providing temporary shelters and ensuring that those who have lost their only means of livelihood were able to stand on their feet again.

"We will work hand in hand and our best for a new future for these victims," Singh later said in Port Blair before flying out to Delhi arriving in the capital around midnight.