Woman recalls giving birth to son 'Tsunami' during 2004 disaster, says, 'I don't want to...'

Namita Roy was 26 when she gave birth to her son, 'Tsunami,' in a snake-infested jungle after massive waves triggered by the 2004 earthquake destroyed her home on Hut Bay Island, Andaman and Nicobar. Twenty years later, she vividly remembers that harrowing day.

"I don't want to recall that dark day," Roy told PTI, her voice trembling. She described an eerie silence before the sea suddenly receded, followed by a terrifying wall of water and tremors. Chaos erupted as people ran towards a hillock for safety. Roy fainted amidst the panic and woke hours later in a jungle, relieved to find her husband and elder son but devastated by the destruction of their island.

That night, she went into labour but found herself without medical help. With the assistance of women also seeking refuge, she gave birth to her son on a boulder, surrounded by snakes. "There was no food, and fear of the sea kept us in the jungle. I barely managed to feed my premature baby while my condition worsened due to blood loss," she said.

The family spent four nights in the hills before being rescued by defence personnel. Roy was transported to a hospital in Port Blair for treatment.

Now living in Hooghly, West Bengal, with her sons, Saurabh and Tsunami, Roy reflects on her journey. Her elder son works in shipping, while Tsunami aspires to be an oceanographer to serve the Andaman administration.

"My mother is the strongest person I know," Tsunami said. "After my father passed during the pandemic, she worked tirelessly, running a food delivery service she proudly named 'Tsunami Kitchen.'"

Officials noted that the devastation in 2004 could have been mitigated with a warning system. Today, over 1,400 warning stations worldwide ensure better preparedness for such disasters.