Twenty years on: 'My boat was metres from the shore when the tsunami hit'

On December 26, 2004, a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia, measuring 9. 1 on the Richter scale. This earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that affected many countries, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where a woman named Geeta was on a ferry. Geeta was excited to visit her friend and enjoy the beautiful beaches of Havelock Island. Just as their boat was leaving the harbor, disaster struck. The jetty where they had boarded suddenly collapsed into the sea, shocking everyone on the boat. Fortunately, the jetty was empty at the time, so there were no injuries. However, the passengers were unaware that a much larger disaster was about to unfold. The tsunami hit the islands just minutes after the earthquake, bringing waves as high as 15 meters. Many homes were destroyed, and thousands of people were affected. While on the boat, Geeta and her friends were oblivious to the scale of destruction around them. They only received bits of information from the crew about the damage in other countries, but there was no news about the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. When they finally returned to Port Blair, they were met with a scene of devastation. Buildings were in ruins, small boats were overturned in the streets, and roads were damaged. Geeta met a traumatized nine-year-old girl who had nearly drowned and a woman who lost all her possessions in an instant. The Indian government quickly mobilized to help those affected by the tsunami. They set up temporary shelters for the homeless and sent in rescue teams to assist with recovery efforts. The army, navy, and air force were deployed to bring supplies and help those in need. Many families were separated during the disaster, and people were desperately searching for their loved ones. Journalists were flown to the islands to report on the situation, and they witnessed the destruction firsthand. One woman shared her harrowing story of survival, explaining how she and her baby managed to escape the tsunami while others were not so lucky. The Indian air force base on Car Nicobar Island was completely flattened, resulting in the loss of many lives. The recovery efforts were challenging due to the extensive damage to roads and jetties, making it difficult to deliver aid to all the affected islands. Geeta reflected on her experience and wondered what might have happened if she had been at the jetty when the tsunami struck. She felt fortunate to have survived, but her heart ached for those who were not as lucky. The Boxing Day tsunami remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in history, and its impact is still felt today.