Biogeography

Tsunami can be detected by surveillance cameras.

The tsunamis generated in the Indian Ocean region may be detected well in advance by installing
surveillance cameras in the Light House at the southernmost tip of The Andaman Islands and
monitoring the ocean.
The tsunamis generated in the Indonesian Island region can reach countries like Bangladesh,
Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka including India only after crossing the Andaman Islands
that lie between these countries and Indonesia.
The tsunamis generated in the past categorically prove this fact.
For example, the tsunami which shook the entire South Asia on 26.12.2004, struck the southernmost
tip of the Andaman Islands in half an hours time. At that time, the height of these waves was thirty
feet.
It is evident that these tsunamis could have been very easily detected if surveillance cameras had
been installed in the Light House at the southernmost tip of The Andaman Islands.
Hence, on the basis of these facts, the people living in the coastal areas of the countries around the
Indian Ocean could have been saved by alerting them about the impending danger and instructing
them to move to safer places.
But, there was no awareness at that point of time.
It may be attributed mainly to the negligence of the authorities and experts.
We can explain this as follows. Around hundred and thirty three years ago, a similar tsunami struck
the coastal areas of the countries situated around the Indian Ocean after striking the southernmost
tip of The Andaman Islands.
Specifically, through the chart released by the International Ocean Study Centre, it has come to
limelight that the tsunamis generated on 27.8.1883 as a result of the eruption of Krakatau Volcano
situated in the southern region of Sumatra Island, struck the coastal areas of the countries situated
around the Indian Ocean only one hour after striking the southernmost tip of The Andaman Islands.
It is worth noting that, by learning a valuable lesson from the past tsunami disasters, if a tsunami
warning centre had been established in the southernmost tip of The Andaman Islands, the people
living in the coastal areas of the countries around the Indian Ocean could have been saved from the
last South Asian tsunami by issuing timely alerts about the danger ahead and instructing them to
move to safer places.
At this juncture, there is no room for a second opinion about the absolute need for commencing the

program of installing surveillance cameras in the Light House at the southernmost tip of The
Andaman Islands and monitoring the ocean.
The past experiences have proved that there is no assurance that history will not repeat itself in
future with regard to tsunamis.
Moreover, at present, deep-ocean tsunami detection buoys floated in the ocean are frequently stolen
and they also often go out of service.
Also, this program is neither expensive to implement nor time-consuming. A motivated government
can complete this exercise in a single week and ensure the safety of the people living in countries
surrounding the Indian Ocean including India.
This will also help in boosting the image of India among the world countries.
In addition, this program is also indispensable for the safety of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power
Plant.
This will again go a long way for the government in winning the hearts of the people living in the
coastal areas of countries surrounding the Indian Ocean.
Further to state
By installing surveillance cameras in the Light House at the southernmost tip of The Andaman Group
of Islands and monitoring the ocean, people living in the northern region Andaman Islands with a
population of three lakh people, may be alerted half an hour to one hour in advance about the
approaching tsunami.

The reason is, even the tsunami waves which struck the southernmost part, took nearly one hour to
reach the northern area of the Andaman Group of Islands.
Recently, the government of Kerala has announced its plan to install surveillance cameras in tourist
spots like Moonar, Ponmudi, Thekkadi etc. and monitor these areas through the Police Stations in
an attempt to prevent crimes in these places.

The southernmost tip of The Andaman Islands called Indira Point where the Light House is situated
is also a tourist attraction. Hence, similar to Kerala, effective policing is also possible by installing
surveillance cameras in this Light House.
Thanks,

Sceintist.G.Ponmudi.chennai.email-G.ponmudi@gmail.com