Chennai, Dec 26 (UNI) Candle light processions, silent marches and special prayers marked the second anniversary of the killer tsunami, that claimed more than 8000 lives in this coastal districts of Tamil Nadu.

People from various walks of life paid homage to the victims and fishermen, hoisted black flags on their boats and refrained from fishing activity to mourn the death of their brethren, on this day in 2004.

Several NGOs who had come to the aid of the victims, dedicated permanent shelters to the affected families, to mark the occasion.

A day after low key Christmas celebrations, family members of the victims took out silent processions and lit candles to pay a tearful homage to the victims.

Poignant secnes were witnessed in the worst hit Kanniyakumari, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts, where people tearfully recalled with how they lost their dear ones to tsunami.

Wails rent the air amid an eerie silence in the coastal areas of Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Kanniyakumari districts this morning as the family members visited the ''samadhis'' of those killed and paid homage.

Grief gripped the fishermen colonies in the entire coastal stretch.

More UNI GV VV RR VV1556