View source for Effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on India

{{Short description|Effect of 2004}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
[[Image:Indian Ocean Earthquake2004.png|thumb|250px|alt=Map of the Indian Ocean region|Countries affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]]
According to official estimates in India, 10,749 people were killed, 5,640 people were missing and thousands of people became homeless when a [[tsunami]] triggered by the '''[[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]]''' near the [[Indonesia]]n island of [[Sumatra]] struck the southern coast on 26 December 2004. The earthquake registered 9.1–9.3 [[Moment magnitude scale|M<sub>w</sub>]] and was the largest in five decades.<ref>{{cite web|title=Magnitude 9.1 – OFF THE WEST COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2004/us2004slav/ |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |access-date=26 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901204211/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2004/us2004slav/ |archive-date=1 September 2012  }}</ref> It was followed by strong aftershocks<ref>[https://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqsww/Quakes/ussmax.htm ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050103084926/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqsww/Quakes/ussmax.htm |date=3 January 2005 }}</ref> on the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]. The death toll of the earthquake was 1,500 people.

==Affected states and regions==
[[File:A Body is being retrieved after few days of ordeal at Nagapattinam on January 02, 2005.jpg|thumb|A Body is being retrieved after few days of ordeal at [[Nagapattinam]] on 2 January 2005]]
[[File:A scene of devastation caused by Tsunami waves in Kalapet village near Pondicherry.jpg|thumb|A scene of devastation caused by Tsunami waves in Kalapet village near Pondicherry]]
[[File:An All Party Meeting to discuss Relief and Rehabilitations Measures of Tsunami Tragedy held in New Delhi on January 9, 2005.jpg|thumb|An All Party Meeting to discuss Relief and Rehabilitations Measures of Tsunami Tragedy held in New Delhi on 9 January 2005]]

This disaster affected a total of fourteen regions.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.theatlantic.com|title = Ten Years Since the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami|last = Taylor|first = Alan|date = 26 December 2014|access-date = 2016-02-01}}</ref> The [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] comprise 572 islands (land masses at low and high tide), of which 38 are inhabited by people from the mainland and indigenous tribes. The islands were just north of the earthquake [[epicentre]], and the tsunami reached a height of {{convert|15|m}} in the southern Nicobar Islands. The official death toll was 1,310, with about 5,600 missing. The unofficial death toll (including those missing and presumed dead) was estimated at about 7,000. This ocean earthquake goes down in history as the deadliest of all time. It took the lives of over 230,000 victims throughout the fourteen regions and wounded more than double this number.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.ibtimes.co.uk|title = 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami: Facts about the Boxing Day disaster|last = Osbourne|first = Hannah|date = 22 December 2014|access-date = 2016-02-01}}</ref>
The [[Great Nicobar]] and [[Car Nicobar]] islands were the worst hit among all the islands because of their proximity to the quake and relatively flat terrain. [[Aftershock]]s rocked the area,<ref>[http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=55804]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050306181624/http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=55804 |date=6 March 2005 }}</ref>
and one-fifth of the population of the [[Nicobar Islands]] was reported dead, injured or missing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/974230.cms |title=Asia toll touches 68,000; 12,500 dead in India |work=The Times Of India |date=29 December 2004 |access-date=2013-05-21}}</ref> [[Chowra Island]] lost two-thirds of its population of 1,500. Entire islands were submerged, and [[Trinket Island]] was divided in two.<ref>[http://in.news.yahoo.com/041229/137/2ipv4.html]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050102020802/http://in.news.yahoo.com/041229/137/2ipv4.html |date=2 January 2005 }}</ref> Communications were cut to the [[Nancowry Island|Nancowry]] group of islands, some of which were submerged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/dec/30tsunami2.htm |title=7000 still missing: Mukherjee |work=Rediff.com |date=30 December 2004 |access-date=2013-05-21}}</ref>

On Car Nicobar, 111 [[Indian Air Force]] personnel and their family members were washed away when the tsunami severely damaged their air base.<ref>[http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&amp;id=50910] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050306181624/http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&amp;id=50910 |date=6 March 2005 }}</ref> St. Thomas Cathedral (also known as the ''John Richardson church'' after John Richardson, a [[missionary]] and [[member of parliament]]) was washed away. The church, established in 1930 was one of the oldest and prominent churches in the region. A [[cricket]] stadium named after John Richardson and a statue dedicated to him were also washed away.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

Most of the population of the [[Andaman Islands]] are people from the mainland, primarily [[West Bengal]] and [[Tamil Nadu]]. The natives of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are endangered tribal groups, such as the [[Jarawa (Andaman Islands)|Jarawa]], [[Sentinelese people|Sentinelese]], [[Shompen people|Shompen]], [[Onge people|Onge]] and the [[Great Andamanese]]. They are [[anthropology|anthropologically]]-significant as some of the world's most primitive tribes. Most have maintained their lifestyle for centuries, and government policy is one of non-interference. Most of the native islanders reportedly survived the tsunami because they lived on higher ground or far from the coast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/31/stories/2004123106661100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050103012426/http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/31/stories/2004123106661100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2005 |title=National : All primitive tribes safe |date=31 December 2004 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2013-05-21}}</ref> The [[Onge people|Onge]] (with a 2001 census population of 96), [[Jarawa (Andaman Islands)|Jarawa]] (240), [[Sentinelese people|Sentinelese]] (39) and [[Great Andamanese]] (43) were reached by survey teams. The Sentinelese, on an island reserve, are hostile to outsiders and shot arrows at helicopters sent to check on them.<ref>[http://www.canada.com/components/printstory/printstory4.aspx?id=4d40b4df-f5ed-46be-a0f4-5ff01938e6aa ]{{dead link|date=May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4250294 |title=Remote Indian Islands See Tsunami Destruction |publisher=NPR |date=29 December 2004 |access-date=2013-05-21}}</ref><ref>[http://www.expressindia.com/print.php?newsid=40160]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050115114947/http://www.expressindia.com/print.php?newsid=40160 |date=15 January 2005 }}</ref> On the [[Nicobar Islands]] the [[Nicobarese people|Nicobarese]], a tribe with a [[Southeast Asian]] heritage (2001 population 28,653), lost about 656 lives with 3,000 missing. Surveys were conducted on the [[Shompen people|Shompen]] (2001 census count of 398) located on Great Nicobar island.

India's only active volcano, Barren 1 (on [[Barren Island (Andaman Islands)|Barren Island]] {{convert|135|km|abbr=on}} northeast of [[Port Blair]]), erupted on 30 December due to increased seismic activity. The population was evacuated, and there were no casualties. Indira Point (6°45’10″N and 93°49’36″E), the southernmost point of the Great Nicobar Island and India itself, subsided {{convert|4.25|m}} in the tsunami and its lighthouse was damaged.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indira-Point-falls-off-map/articleshow/975380.cms|title=Indira Point falls off map &#124; India News - Times of India}}</ref>

=={{anchor|Further meteorological and seismic developments}}Meteorological and seismic reports==
The Indian Meteorological Department warned people in coastal areas to exercise caution due to rough seas and tsunami.<ref>[http://education.vsnl.com/imdchennai/cslbltn.htm]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228064019/http://education.vsnl.com/imdchennai/cslbltn.htm |date=28 December 2009 }}</ref> The Indian government issued a tsunami alert across India's coastal areas, triggering a panic<ref>{{cite web|url=http://us.rediff.com/news/2004/dec/30panic.htm |title=Panic in TN town after tsunami alert |publisher=Us.rediff.com |date=2004-12-30 |access-date=2013-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7205646 |title=Breaking News, Top News & Latest News Headlines |publisher=Reuters.com |date=2009-02-09 |access-date=2013-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050628015144/http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews |archive-date=28 June 2005 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> which required clarifications.<ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=Tsunami&slug=Govt+calms+fears+over+fresh+tsunami&id=15982&callid=0&category=National ]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129102653/http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=Tsunami&slug=Govt%20calms%20fears%20over%20fresh%20tsunami&id=15982&callid=0&category=National |date=29 November 2005 }}</ref>

=={{anchor|Government ex gratia}}''Ex gratia'' payments==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Government
!''Ex gratia''
|-
|[[Government of India]]
|The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs. {{formatnum:100000}} (one lakh rupees) to the next of kin of each deceased. The payment will be made from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
|-
|[[Government of Tamil Nadu]]
|The Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs. {{formatnum:100000}} (one lakh) to the family of each victim.<ref>{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20080506183525/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/001200412261810.htm ]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Government of Kerala]]
|''Ex gratia'' payment of Rs.50,000 to the next kin of those killed; assistance of Rs.10,000 to the families of the deceased to meet funeral expenses
|-
|Union Territory of Puducherry
|Chief Minister N. Rangasamy announced an ''ex gratia'' payment of Rs {{formatnum:100000}} (one lakh) to the next of kin of those killed. The administration would also pay an ''ex gratia'' Rs5000 towards funeral expenses. For those injured in the disaster, the administration would provide Rs5000. A sum of Rs10,000 would enable the homeless to rebuild their homes.<ref>[http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=50351] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050508201918/http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=50351 |date=8 May 2005 }}</ref>
|}

==See also==
* [[Disaster management in India]]
* [[Disaster Management Act, 2005]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
{{wikinews|Strongest earthquake in 40 years hits Southeast Asia}}
* [http://in.rediff.com/news/tsunami.htm Rediff.com]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/world/2004/asia_quake_disaster/default.stm BBC coverage (includes video footage)]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/car-nicobar-imagery.htm GlobalSecurity.org]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050102021414/http://www.crisp.nus.edu.sg/tsunami/tsunami.html CRISP, Singapore]
* Rediff [http://specials.rediff.com/news/2004/dec/26pic1.htm photos, set 1] [http://specials.rediff.com/news/2004/dec/27sld1.htm Photo set 2]
* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/971293.cms ''Times of India'' photos]
* [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/gallery/0281/0281i001.htm ''The Hindu'' photos]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/4125643.stm BBC photos]
* [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041228/quake/index.htm ''Tribune India'' photos]
* [http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2004/s2357.htm National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Tsunami page]

{{Tsunami2004impact}}
{{Asia topic|Effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on}}
{{Natural disasters in India}}

[[Category:2004 in India]]
[[Category:Effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami by country|India]]
[[Category:History of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
[[Category:History of Andhra Pradesh (1947–2014)]]
[[Category:Disasters in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:History of Kerala (1947–present)]]
[[Category:21st century in Puducherry]]
[[Category:2000s in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Disasters in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:2004 disasters in India]]