Tsunami Alert Brings Old Mangalore Port to a Standstill
Brijesh Garodi
Pics: Brijesh Garodi / Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Apr 11: An uneasy calm prevailed over Old Mangalore Port after a Tsunami warning was issued following mild tremors in the city on Wednesday April 11.
The Tsunami alert was scaled down later, but the silence at the otherwise busy port spoke volumes of the effect on the fishermen community. Activities almost came to a halt, and all one could hear was fishermen's talk of the impending doom. The port gave one a feeling that something had happened, or was going to.
Several boats that had ventured into the sea were seen returning soon after the warning was issued.
Rumours were rife that a Tsunami would strike Mangalore at 7.06 pm, and earlier in the day a warning in this regard was also issued. Though there was no visible panic, routine life was disrupted.
The Panambur beach too wore a deserted look, with emergency services on alert. An appeal was made to the public not to go for adventure sports on water, and people obediently stayed away.
The DC also convened an emergency press meet and later a meeting with officials, issuing a public statement asking the public to remain calm and assuring that the city was ready to face any calamity.
The tremors were felt in Mangalore, Udupi, Bangalore and in several places across the state and the country, after the massive 8.9-magnitude quake that rocked Sumatra in Indonesia.
But the tremors and warnings did not worry the people of Mangalore much, and the elderly were heard reasoning that nothing bad can happen to the city of 'Parashurama Srishti' and 'Land of Naga Srishti'.