Monday, December 26 2005 14:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: The 'Boxer Day' tragedy on December 26 last year, which killed thousands of people in Tamil Nadu, still lingers on in the minds of people, as fisherfolk of the Srinivasapuram colony converged on the Marina beach here today (Dec 26,2005)to mourn the deaths of their near and dear ones.

People in tears, most of them carrying candles, came in batches to the beach and stood silently, remembering their loved ones.

For Arivazahgan, who lost his wife, two sons, but managed to save his 10-month old daughter, it was a turbulent year.

Having lost his wife and all his belongings on that fateful day, he had taken shelter in a relief centre and had worked hard to bring up the infant.

"I am sad that I could not save my wife and my sons. But I have the consolation of saving my daughter, who is everything to me. But for her, I would have also gone to heaven to be with my wife and sons', Arivazhagan, who was leading a comfortable life before the tsunami struck, said.

Similar is the case with a lot of fisherfolk in the area. Each family has the same story to narrate in the area, from where over 270 people perished in the tsunami.

In memory of those departed, early morning walkers at the Marina beach lit candles. At Srinvasaspuram, fishermen also lit candles and tied pieces of black cloth to their boats.

A year after the Tsunami struck the Marina beach, the world's second largest, people frequenting it go about their daily routine among them, joggers, vendors and tourists.

Along the three km stretch, one finds children playing cricket, friends chatting away, fishermen busy mending their nets and wayside shops selling a variety of items, like soap, pens, notebooks and even curios.

One also finds cars and two-wheelers parked as usual opposite the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police office and All India Radio building, two important landmarks in the city.

This was not the scene for nearly a month after the tsunami struck, as people did not venture onto the beach and kept to the main road. Soon some brave souls started walking on the beach and some even went closer to the sea. Though people now frequent the beach, they keep a distance.

Official statistics say over 150 persons were killed in the tragedy last year.

Recalling that fateful day on Dec 26, Arumugam, a regular morning walker, says he received a call from his family over cellphone at around 9.00 AM, saying that people all over the city had felt tremors. However, he did not feel anything.

Another walker said he noticed that the sea seemed to have receded a bit.

"I did not bring my spectacles and thought I was imagining things. Others said they suspected something amiss," he said.

Suddenly he saw people running towards him shouting that the waves were coming in fast. He saw giant waves strike the shore and a wall of water rushing towards him.

"For a second I was perplexed. Then fear struck me and I ran towards my two-wheeler, parked near the footpath close to the DGP's office and sped away", he said.