Operation Tamil Nadu

The Tsunami's path of destruction

On the 5th of January, RESQ International embarked upon a journey to Tamil Nadu; the worst affected state in India. The nine member team of doctors and volunteers was led by Dr. Santhosh Kumar S. S. visited Kulaichal, Nagappattinam, Nagore and Velankanni.


A house devastated by the Tsunami

Five medical camps were held in locations in Nagappattinam and Nagore and about 700 patients were attended to over a period of 3 days.


Dr. Jayashankar examining a few patients at a camp at Nagappattinam.


An abscess on the left leg of a victim being drained by Dr. Bennet.


The make-shift pharmacy in the Toyota Qualis

Apart from camps, the RESQ International team travelled to the villages affected and spent time listening to the painful stories of persons affected by the Tsunami which unleashed itself on the 26th of December 2004.


One of the many saddening stories... from a man who lost his entire family.

Some of them had lost entire families while a few others were more fortunate. Many of the victims were so scared that they refuse to return back to their villages in the coastline.

Hundreds of persons are still missing. A fortnight has elapsed since the tragedy but the hunt for the bodies is still on in many areas. Those bodies which are being found are photographed and buried immediately.

One of the heartening aspects about this otherwise tragic disaster is the fact that a lot of voluntary organisations, both from the affected areas and elsewhere, had been actively helping the victims by providing water, food, shelter and medications. The administrative machinery has also been put into good use and the sanitation levels in most places were good.


After a medical camp at Nagore, the RESQ International team spent some time with the kids in the relief camp.

The funds were mobilised from the U. A. E. by Mr. Riaz who accompanied the team in its journey. The other team members were Dr. Santhosh Kumar S. S., Dr. Thirumalai Pandian, Dr. Jayashankar, Dr. Sreesobh, Dr. Bennet Chacko, Dr. Dinesh, Dr. Krishna Kumar V. and Mr. Jameer.


The RESQ International team (from L to R) KK, Bennet, Jayashankar, Thirumalai, Jameer, Sreesobh, Riaz, Dinesh and Santhosh.

Our next mission is a trip to Andaman. Trips to Indonesia and Sri Lanka are also under consideration.

Some of the photos taken during the trip will be published shortly.