The tragic fate of the children, the power of solidarity among different believers
Chennai (AsiaNews) The Indian government announced that tsunami-related casualties now stand at 7,330. Another 7,000 people are missing, 4,000 from the islands of Andaman and Nicobar and 3,000 from the south-east coast of the mainland.
On the two islandshome to some 350,000 peoplemany areas still lack regular communication links.
Fear of other tsunami is keeping the country on alert. The government of south-western state of Kerala told residents in coastal regions to remain vigilant.
Union Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday arrived in the affected areas. Today he is scheduled to visit Colochal (Tamil Nadu); tomorrow, he is expected in Kerala.
The number of dead children is sadly impressive.
In the town of Cuddalore in hardest-hit Tamil Nadu (6,000 dead), 400 people died.
According to Hindu custom, adults are burnt and children buried and in Cuddalore there are more mass graves that mass funeral pyres.
Thousands of children are left orphan and are now threatened by typhus, cholera and malaria.
The tragedy has led many people to churches, temples and other religious places.
Tens of men and women have gathered at the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Vailankanni that rises on the devastated coastline of Tamil Nadu.
On the day of the sudden surge, some two thousand faithful were taking part in Sunday mass. Those inside the shrine survived untouched; those outside were swept away by the fury of the waves.
In Nagapattinam, also in Tamil Nadu, Muslims are flocking to mosques and Hindus are filling temples to light candles to better bear their sorrow. Here, the tragedy has bridged the distance between believers of different religions. A local Muslim leader, Mohammed Khalifa Sahib, said "the doors to God's home are open to all".
In Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu's second worst-hit town, the local mosque is sheltering local fishermen who are mostly Christian and Hindu.
Muslims are also feeding the survivors: milk for the hundreds of children and food for the adults.
About 3,000 Muslims are taking care of 10,000 Hindus and Christians in make-shift shelters in local schools. (LF)
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