Few remnants of the Japanese occupation exist on the island. Squadron Leader Beniwal says a bunker erected by the Japanese during World War II was destroyed in the tsunami.
But the Japanese well at the Indian Air Force station and the Old Japanese Road, though damaged, made it through the disaster. The Old Japanese road running through the interior of the island has been restored and efforts are being made to de-contaminate the well water.
The only stadium on the island -- the John Richardson stadium -- was also badly damaged, and till a few weeks ago, relief personnel had pitched their tents between the two goal posts.
The auditorium next door -- the only one in Car Nicobar -- is now a godown to store relief rations, guarded by a sentry.
Text and photograph: Archana Masih; Design: Dominic Xavier