‘Went to tame malaria in Andamans, lost family’ (Five years after tsunami)

NEW DELHI - “Tsunami…perhaps it is the most devastating word of my life,” said epidemiologist Manoj Das, flipping through photographs of his wife and daughter. “I went to tame malaria in the Andamans but lost my family.”

Sitting at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) guest house here, the 49-year-old said of the killer wave that struck Dec 26, 2004: “It took away my wife and daughter. Today my daughter would have turned 13. Now, I am leading a mechanical life.”

Only his son survived. “I am from Puri, the land of Lord Jagannath, but it seems he did not listen to my prayers,” said Das, his eyes moist and his voice almost choked.

It was 1990, when malaria was spreading like an epidemic in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, that Das was chosen to help control the disease which was affecting the health of civilians and military personnel there.

“I saved thousands of lives. The spread was reduced substantially. I introduced many novel techniques like special nets for military people. But 14 years after I joined, the tsunami took away my family,” said the doctor, who currently heads the Malaria Research Institute in Ranchi and was in Delhi in connection with his work.

“My wife was not happy. She wanted me to take a transfer, but I was too duty bound. See what happened to me. Five years after the tragedy, I still dream about them.”

The Dec 26 tsunami in 2004 killed over 12,000 Indians and displaced tens of thousands. Though relief and rehabilitation picked up well, the scars remain.

Das and his family were staying in Car Nicobar.

“On Dec 25, 2004, I had gone to Port Blair from Car Nicobar to fly down to Delhi for work. One day later, the tsunami hit the coast. My residence, my research and my family all went to nowhere land,” he added.

Das, however, found his son Bikas with over 200 wounds on his body. “Now, he is fit but all these injuries have left his eyesight weak. He is now studying in Orissa.”

Hoping against hope, Das, even today believes his wife Lipika and daughter will return to him. “I spent lakhs of rupees on searching them. I have visited many astrologers and sadhus. All assure me that my wife and daughter are still alive.”

“Though I have full faith in them, with every passing day, the hope is fading. See, I have now just two bags and I carry them wherever I travel. They are my treasures,” the doctor said, as his voice faltered.

“Every year on Dec 26, I live another death.”