Date:04/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/04/stories/2005010407110400.htm

Tamil Nadu

More men flock to Thanjavur camps, looking for missing kin

By G. Srinivasan

THANJAVUR, JAN. 3 . Enquiries about missing persons post-tsunami are increasing at relief centres and in the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital.

An information centre has been opened in the hospital.

Yesterday Sultan from Keezhakarai came in search of his brother, Hameed, who was doing fish trade at Nagapattinam. Hameed and his son, who went to the beach on December 26, fled on seeing seismic waves. Hameed handed over his son to some persons in a house. Later, his son he saw his father and others to safety. But the waves sucked them in.

"I have enquired about him in all relief camps at Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and other places. As a last resort, I have come here," Mr. Sultan said.

Officials at the centre, going through the list of 396 persons undergoing treatment in the hospital, told him that Hameed was not there. Though disappointed, Mr. Sultan says he would search for his brother in the Rajah Serfoji College camp.

Another person from Bangalore brought a photograph of Anand (37) who, he said, visited Vailankanni along with seven colleagues on December 26. Only two of them returned to Bangalore.

A few persons from Kerala are searching for a family of three.

In the medical college hospital, 224 men, 142 women, 17 boys and 13 girls are being treated and in the Rajah Mirasdhar Government Hospital, three men, nine women, 10 boys and 8 girls are undergoing treatment.

Among the injured were two pregnant women, who were of delivered babies in the Rajah Mirasdhar Hospital.

There are those who have had a miraculous escape. A boy tossed by the waves clung to a tree. Another person held on to his floating car, which later got stuck between two coconut trees.

Hospital service

Kalaiselvi, Dean, Thanjavur Medical College, and C. Gunasekaran, Resident Medical Officer, said the injuries sustained by the victims were varied: they had spleen, intestinal and bladder ruptures and broken spinal chords. Doctors were working throughout the night on December 26, admitting patients, giving them first aid and conducting surgeries. By 10 a.m. on December 27, 400 patients were treated. House surgeons, postgraduate students and all doctors were involved. Regular surgeries were cancelled. Nearly 35 major surgeries were performed.