Tsunami
Tsunami waves diffracted around the Indian peninsula, hitting Kerala on the west coast on the afternoon of 26 December 2004. The death toll in Kerala was 170 against 7,923 in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. However, there was panic all around. In the Thiruvanthapuram area alone, 100,000 people were evacuated from coastal villages by the district administration and 57 relief camps were opened.
Tsunami created panic in the travel trade and hospitality sector with all beach resorts being declared out of bounds for the tourists. The famed beach resorts of Kovalam and Shanghumughom in the capital and other beaches south of Kovalam, which are normally crowded at that time of the year, wore a deserted look. Domestic tourists and others who arrived unknowingly made a quick retreat after being alerted.
Fortunately, as the tourist inflow figures indicate, beaches in Kerala have left those dark days behind.
Read more about this topic: Beaches In Kerala