AFVOA Newletters of Year 2005

Page 15 of 75 took premature retirement in the year 2000, and went away to the US. Thereafter, Col Tyagarajan gradually withdrew himself, and zest for life slowly receded. After much persuasion, he did join the ECHS late last year and also utilised the facilty. After short illness, he passed away at the Apollo Hospital. The President of AFVOA and other members attended the cremation and other ceremonies. If you would not be forgotten either write things worth reading or do things worth the writing. ~ Benjamin Franklin Letters to the Editor 63. “You really have the stamina to do it. No one else can put in so much of effort.” ~ Brig CS Kamboj I am in receipt of the latest Newsletter No 6 of 2004 dated 11 Dec 2004. It will be interesting to have matters covering the subjects noted therein. Please permit me to say that I look forward to receiving the Newsletter which makes very enjoyable and interesting reading. I do not put it down till I have read the entire Newsletter!! Please accept my sincere congratulations to the entire Editorial team for the excellence and thoughtfulness reflected in all Newsletters. God Bless your efforts with continued success. == Capt J A Gregory CLOSE CALL WITH TSUNAMI 64. This is a first person account about two families who had a close call with TSUNAMI on Sunday the 26 th December 2004. Gp Capt Kunhiraman went to Mahabalipuram with his family (a large group consisting of many members of his family) for few days vacation. They lodged in a hotel situated hardly a hundred feet from the sea shore. On Sunday morning the grandchildren were playing in the sea shore in the sea waves and sand. At about 0800 hrs or so, he herded every one to have breakfast. As they almost finished the breakfast, Kunhiraman’s daughter noticed a huge sheet of water approaching from the sea. She directed the attention to this wave to her brother (who is in the Navy) and he immediately shouted "It is a tidal wave; run into the main land” and urged every other resident to do likewise. They all ran inland to a building farther up and were climbing up the stairs. Kunhiraman was in the vanguard, helping the ladies to catch up. Just then a sheet of water submerged them and Kunhiraman was washed away. But he had the presence of mind to catch hold of a young cashew tree - slender but it was strong. He clung to it, with both his hands and intertwined his legs around the tree-trunk. The wave hit him very hard a couple of times and he gulped the sea water and his hands were weakening, but he clung on due to pure will-power. His family could see his plight from the upper floor of the building but could not help him. After the onslaught of the waves receded he climbed down from the tree and almost tottered into the building where his family was sheltered. Mrs Kunhiraman also had gulped sea water and was running slight temperature. Both the Kunhiramans returned home and were treated by his sister-in-law who is a Doctor. Mr. Sunder (son of late Maj JL Rattan and Ms Devi Rattan) along with a friend and their families went to the Besant Nagar beach on Saturday night and stayed in a nearby hotel for the night so as to avoid driving at night. Early morning on Sunday