NELLORE/ONGOLE: Uneasy calm prevails in the coastal village of Mypadu West, which is hardly 30 metres from the sea. It is in tune with the mood of the sea, which all of a sudden has gone calm, with waves subsiding.“It was similar on that fateful day of December 26, 2004. Initially, the sea was calm then too. We lost three of our elders to the sea which turned violent after that calm. Now, we are fearful and pray to God not to let that happen again,” said P Murali, a fisherman at the village in Nellore district. He said he was sleeping on that night in the open, when a wave came crashing on the village. People across the coastal places of Andhra Pradesh recalled the 2004 tsunami as news of Indonesia quake spread. Fear is visible in the eyes of Murali, and at the same time, determination is evident on his face: There shall be no loss of life this time.There are 500 families living in the village and frantic efforts were on to move fishing nets and boats to higher ground. Revenue officials are prepared to shift the villagers before any disaster strikes. If necessary, police are ready to step in. “People are ready to vacate, but our elders are adamant to stay in the village. We are asking them to move. If they don’t, police have decided to shift them by force,” Murali said.Several people of Guntur and Prakasam districts also remember the fear that gripped them during the 2004 tsunami. About 12 people were washed away in tidal waves at Pottisubbaiahpalem village of Vetapalem mandal of Prakasam district, while another 10 persons lost their lives at Pakala of Singarayakonda mandal in the same district. “We built a memorial for those who died in the tsunami,” Vayu Thammaji, a villager said.Many people started packing essentials and valuables soon after the officials sent the alert. “The waves are showing dangerous signs. The sea surged a little forward and the huge waves bring to mind tragic memories,” said K Thimothi.
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