Every news station on network and cable television has been following the unbelievable destruction caused by a tsunami that hit at least 11 countries the day after Christmas. People have heard stories of death and survival, hopelessness and miracle reunions. The location of the coverage is half a world away, but for one local Lexington woman, it is as close to heart as you can imagine.

 

	Took three days to get in touch with sister due to damaged lines

Shail Kumar, owner of Kitabee Books, watched the Sunday news with great fear. Her sister lives with her husband and two children, age 7 and 10, on the islands of Andaman and Nicobar, at the epicenter of the earthquake that triggered the tsunami. These islands, along with Indonesia and other small countries, were among the first to be hit by the massive wave.

 

“I had visited there in October, and some of the small islands we had seen had been destroyed,” explained Kumar. She said it took three days to get in touch with her sister because of damage to the phone lines in those countries.

 

“I called my mom because I didn’t know what was going on, and my mom didn’t know what was going on;  I was frantic,” Kumar said.

 

Kumar’s parents live in northern India, and she was thankful that they were far away from the destruction. She excitedly told her sister’s story of that day.

 

Kumar said that the islanders felt the earthquake because they were so close. This caused confusion in itself, and no one knew what was to follow.

 

Kumar’s sister lives in the capital of the islands, which is comprised of about 100 small islands. To the east is Ross Island, which was hit by the wave, first, dispersing the pressure and saving Andaman. It was a blessing for Kumar’s family, as the town only suffered structural damage to buildings and bursted water lines. For South of Port Blair in Little Andaman Island, though, the loss was great. The jetties and marina park were destroyed along with an army base, resulting in the loss of many army personnel.

 

“There are a lot of indigenous tribes on the islands,” said Kumar, “and no one knows how many tribe members were lost.”

Kumar has another sister who was on her way to visit the islands when the disaster hit. Kumar explained that the one sister was waiting to get on a boat from India to see the other sister in Andaman.

 

	"I had visited there in October, and some of the small islands we had seen had been destroyed"
	SHAlL KUMAR Kitabee Books, Owner

“I thought she was already on the boat,” said Kumar. “I thought, ‘Oh no, I only have two sisters, and I’m going to lose them both at the same time.’ I was very frantic.”

 

Kumar said she has spoken to her sister on the island a couple of times since the phone lines were restored. She does plan to visit her sister again, but not for another two years.

 

“I make the trip every two years; it’s very far away,” Kumar explained.

 

With over 94,000 people killed in Indonesia, nearly 10,000 on the coast of India, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. in between, this story of survival so close to home touches more than just one person. Relief aid has been pouring over from many countries and has tallied almost $2 billion. This is the biggest relief effort in world history.