Bridge was our saviour when tsunami struck

CUDDALORE: The Singarathope Bridge that saved many lives during the 2004 tsunami is still remembered with gratitude by the residents of Singarathope, Akkarakori and Sonankuppam villages in Cuddalore. The bridge that was constructed two years before the tsunami is the only way to reach these villages. When the tsunami struck, the residents of all three villages climbed onto the bridge to escape the waves. “People were screaming and rushing towards the bridge... Thousands of people stood there until the water receded,” said Narayanasamy, an elderly resident of Singarathope.Even after district authorities arranged for temporary shelters, villagers stood on the bridge to guard the villages from outsiders. Residents said this bridge is the reason they survived. “It was our saviour,” said Pavadi, a fisherman.