Jaffer Jablu

Eyewitness Information

Country
Pakistan
Name of Witness
Jaffer Jablu
Gender
Male
Location of interview
Ketibander, District Thatta
Where the eyewitness was and went during the event
Ketibander, District Thatta
Age at time of inteview/ Date of Birth of the eyewitness
104 years
Age of eyewitnes during the event
Young (25 approx.)
Career of the eyewitness
Fisherman
Date of Interview
2014-02-17

Brief Information of the eyewitness and the interview situation

When Hindus migrated from this area I was young and used to live for work at various places like Ketibander, Rehri (near Karachi City) and other creeks. I worked as a fisherman and farmer as well. We used to produce 300-400 mann (I monn+40 kg) of wheat in this area because of the plenty of sweat water and fertile land.

Interview result (text of the interview: Purely descriptive)

I remember people living in Dhabu creek were died and at Painchiayani Creek were saved because the place was naturally high. The waves were so high even passed over the trees and small mounts. It happened at fajr or sehri time (before dawn). Many men and women died. I was sleeping in my home. Three waves hit the area one after the other i.e. water came forward and receded three times. We were hit by less high wave and could escape to nearby sand dunes. But the place where my cousins and other families were living was severely hit by high waves and many people died in the event because there were no natural protections like sand dunes or high ground. Mangroves were rooted out from the grounds by the waves but at the same time, mangrove saved the communities living behind those forests. Direction of waves was also different from the normal waves. Open sea intruded in the creeks like Dhabu and Punchiyani which caused reverse direction of flow of water i.e. water entered in the creeks from the sea and hit the people from upstream (opposite) side. In the morning we came to know about the damage caused by the strong waves. Dead bodies were lying over the ground even hung over the trees. I buried few bodies which were hanging over the trees brought by high waves. My cousin Ahmed and his wife died by this tsunami. We brought ration for affected people and arranged few coffin for the dead
Reference Number: EIPK0065