**A Survivor’s Tale: Remembering the Devastation of the 2004 Tsunami in the Andaman Islands**

**This article details a survivor's memories from the fateful Boxing Day in 2004, as she recalls her near-miss with disaster and reflects on the widespread devastation that followed the tsunami, impacting thousands across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.**

On the morning of December 26, 2004, I boarded a ferry destined for Havelock, an idyllic paradise in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, known for its azure waters and stunning beaches. Just a day earlier, I had arrived on Christmas Eve for a long-awaited visit to the islands, where my college friend's family resided in Port Blair. Excited and blissfully unaware of the calamity that awaited, I stood at the front of the boat, eagerly anticipating our seaside adventure.

As the ferry pulled away from the dock at Phoenix Bay, an unexpected tremor caused the vessel to lurch violently. In a matter of moments, I witnessed sheer chaos: the jetty I had just left dramatically crumbled into the water, followed by nearby structures collapsing. Strangers around me gasped in disbelief, but luckily, no one was harmed as the jetty was deserted.

Unbeknownst to us at the time, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake had erupted off the coast of Sumatra, roughly 100km from where we were. This seismic event unleashed a catastrophic tsunami, ultimately claiming around 228,000 lives across several countries. The Andaman Islands were next in line as the tsunami barreled toward them, leaving destruction and despair in its wake.

Our crew informed us that an unimaginable disaster was unfolding, but amidst the chaos, communication was limited. While we saw reports of destruction in Sri Lanka and Thailand, we were woefully uninformed about the damages already affecting our destination. Eventually, we learned that almost all jetties in the Andaman Islands were damaged, including the one in Havelock—making our journey impossible that day.

After hours of uncertainty at sea, we were redirected back to Port Blair, arriving at another damaged dock. As we set foot on land, the devastation was stark. The landscape was littered with the remnants of destroyed buildings, overturned boats, and injured citizens. I couldn’t help but feel the heavy weight of grief surrounding me as I encountered those whose lives had been forever altered in an instant.

One heart-wrenching moment came when I spoke to a young girl who had narrowly escaped drowning while her home filled with treacherous waves. I heard another survivor describe how they lost all their possessions in a fleeting moment of chaos, revealing the harsh reality of the tragedy unfolding around us.

The weeks that followed became a relentless pursuit of recounting the aftermath and the efforts of relief and rescue teams, as the military worked tirelessly to reach all affected islands. I witnessed firsthand the stories of survival amidst tragedy; those who had lost everything still held onto their resolve as they journeyed through makeshift shelters.

In the days following the tsunami, profound sorrow lingered in the air across the islands. My heart broke as I visited Car Nicobar, where I saw devastation firsthand, including the destruction of the Indian Air Force base. Here, families mourned the loss of loved ones, with many yet to be recovered from the rubble, and the sound of grief echoed in the eyes of those who lost their homes and children.

After years have passed, I often reflect on that fateful day I stepped onto the ferry. I wonder what would have happened had I been a few moments earlier or had the tsunami struck while I stood waiting on the jetty. The harrowing memories remain etched in my mind, and while I escaped with my life, I hold close the stories of those who were not so fortunate on that fateful Boxing Day in 2004.