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Cut off from reality in India

John Fahey
27/ 1/2005

A FORMER Hyndburn teacher living near a tsunami-hit part of India has told how her family was cut off from reality as the disaster claimed more than 200,000 lives.

Tracy Humphrys, who moved to Tamil Nadu with husband Owen, 43, and her three sons three years ago, said she had to rely on family in England to tell her what was happening.

She said: "Everything has been chaos.

"There was no reliable way of knowing what had happened because the media isn't like it is in England. Communication is often a real problem here.

"We heard in the morning news report that there had been a tsunami and 10 people were dead.

"We couldn't believe a tsunami could happen around here. And we were shocked that 10 people were dead."

Mrs Humphrys, 42, worked at Broadfield School in Oswaldtwistle before leaving; her husband taught at St Mary Magdalen's School in Accrington.

The couple now teach at Lushington Hall, high up in the hills in Ooty, which is a train ride of several hours from Chennai - the nearest area affected by the disaster.

She said: "A friend of mine here lost 11 relatives, including her sister and nieces. It's heart-rending.

"For a while we didn't know if some of our pupils had survived, but fortunately they're all right.

"School starts again next week and we'll be deciding how we can help.

"It's essential that only people linked to the relief operation come here now.

"Proper teams of workers are needed, people who won't add to the chaos of the situation."

The couple, whose sons are Ben, 16, Steffan, 12, and Jonathon, 10, used to live in Bamford Crescent, Accrington.

They sent a message to their friends and ex-colleagues in Hyndburn: "We are safe and happy here.

"Our jobs teaching charity workers' children are very rewarding but we miss you all."