Abstract

The devastating tsunami triggered by a great megathrust earthquake of magnitude M9.3 that struck the Sumatra trench more than 2000kms to the south east of Chennai in the Indian Ocean wrecked havoc of hitherto unknown proportions in Southern India and Sri Lanka. The major brunt of the devastation was borne besides the Sri-Lankan coast by Tamil Nadu and South Coastal Kerala. The havoc rendered specifically to sea board off Chennai, Nagapattinam, Colachel and Karunagapally in the west coast appears surprising at the outset. A detailed geological appraisal, however, throws insight on the factors responsible for these devastation locations due to tsunami.