On December 26, 2004, an undersea earthquake in Indonesia led to a massive tsunami that claimed more than 7,000 lives in southern India
Chennai: The victims of the deadly 2004 Tsunami that struck the Tamil Nadu coast were remembered on Thursday (December 26), with memorial events marking the 15th anniversary of the natural disaster.
On this day, (December 26) in 2004, a massive tsunami triggered by an undersea earthquake in Indonesia struck the south Indian coast on a Sunday morning.
The massive waves swallowed many, with Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts bearing the brunt, even as nearly 7,000 people were killed in Tamil Nadu.
On Thursday, people of over 64 fishing hamlets in Nagapattinam and Karaikal districts observed the anniversary by taking out candle processions and paying floral tributes at memorials.
When the clock struck 9:17 am, people observed a minute's silence to pay homage to the 6,065 people who lost their lives to the massive waves.
In an event organised at Nagapattinam Collectorate complex, floral tributes were paid at the tsunami memorial park.
At Nagore, tributes were paid to those who were buried in the land owned by the Dargah.
Of the over 300 bodies buried then, nearly 150 bodies were that of Muslims and the rest belonged to Hindus and Christians.
In different places, as part of the memorials, flowers were strewn on the sea while milk was poured, even as people were seen getting emotional remembering the deceased.
Candles were lit to mark the tragic day while banners and hoardings containing the photos of the victims had been erected at many places.