Years of life lost and productivity loss due to tsunami in India

Tsunami, consequent to a powerful earthquake under the seabed in Sumatra, measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale slammed into coastal villages in South East Asia on 26 December 2004. There was an estimated death toll of about 280,000 in eight countries, with 5 million people being affected. Extensive damage occurred in India due to the giant waves 3-10 m in height, affecting the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu (TN), Kerala and Andhra Pradesh (AP), and the Union Territories of Pondicherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Approximately 2260 km of the coastline, besides all the islands in the Nicobar district of Andaman and Nicobar Islands was affected by sea-water that penetrated up to 3 km inland. Fisherfolk staying within the first few hundred metres from the sea were the main victims, besides pilgrims and tourists. Death affected all the age groups and was disproportionately high amongst children. Though the number of deaths indicates the burden, yet in mere numbers, it is an underestimate of the loss. Lifetime lost due to premature death is considered here to measure the real impact of tsunami disaster in India. This report presents the loss due to tsunami in terms of years of life lost (YLL) and productivity due to earnings forgone in the tsunami-hit areas of India.