A Few Good Men and the Angry Sea: Lessons in Disaster Management

On 26 December 2004, a monstrous wave rose from the depths of the Indian Ocean and struck without warning. Among the worst hit was the Air Force base on Car Nicobar Island—residential flats of the IAF were flattened in moments, and at least 116 of its personnel and family members were claimed by the sea. Five days later, Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (now retired) was among the first IAF officers to land on the ruined island, tasked with an almost impossible mission: to rebuild the base in just 100 days. Their first task was to restore the airfield and the jetty so that help and supplies from the mainland could land without further delay. This gripping narrative follows the journey of those who endured the destruction and those who came to restore hope. Through personal stories and vivid accounts, the book captures the scale of loss, the courage of survivors, and the discipline and humanity of the men in uniform who helped pick up the pieces. While it focuses on the 2004 tsunami, the book resonates powerfully in today’s world—one increasingly ravaged by climate change-induced calamities. From cyclones to floods, the echoes of 2004 remind us that nature’s fury remains ever-present.