Nagapattinam, Dec 26: Floral tributes, silent rallies, propitiation of sea with milk and lighting of candles marked the 17th anniversary of Tsunami that caused massive destruction and huge loss of lives in Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu on Sunday.
Over 8,000 people were killed in Tamil Nadu of which Nagapattinam district suffered the maximum loss of 6,065 lives and many more went missing on the fateful Sunday in 2004.
In Nagapattinam, people from all walks of life, students and fishermen in scores of coastal hamlets from Nagore to Pazhayar, including Akkaraipettai, Keechankuppam, Seruthur, Tranquebar, Nagore, Velankanni and Poompuhar that were nearly wiped out by the Tsunami, thronged the seashore in their respective villages and paid tearful homage by offering milk and flowers at the sea in remembrance of the victims.
The fishermen of coastal villages in Nagapattinam stayed away from fishing as a mark of respect to the victims.
Special prayers were organized in temples, churches and mosques in the district. The relatives of victims lit candles and offered floral tribute at the cemeteries of their loved ones.
Leaders and functionaries of various political parties, including former AIADMK Minister O. S. Manian along with the public have paid homage to the victims by pouring milk into the sea at Arcottuthurai coastal hamlet here.
In an event organized at Nagapattinam Collectorate complex, floral tributes were paid at the Tsunami memorial park. Tributes were also paid to the victims by the public at Vedaranyam, Kodiakkarai, Vellapallam and Pushpavanam habitats.
According to reports, homage was paid to Tsunami victims in Kanyakumari district, where 1,017 people lost lives in the natural disaster. Fishermen belonging to all hamlets from Arockiapuram to Neerodi in the district abstained from fishing as a mark of respect.
Families of victims, fishermen and public held silent processions, candle light vigil and floral tributes in the coastal villages along the Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai and Tirunelveli districts.
