As I sit here on my comfortable cot I just can't imagine the sudden jolt I went through yesterday. It was really a great experience or i should say a pain experience. I felt I should share this with everybody.
A day before I was at my desk at office. I felt bit weird like my head is reeling. Then I saw around the metal curtains were shaking and making sound. I saw that everybody were also experiencing the same. It lasted around ten seconds or so. Everybody took it casually as it was just another earthquake which is common in Japan.
Next day 11th march I never new it would be a very awful day for me. It was just a routine day and had returned for my lunch. Around 2.45 I started feeling bit dizzy. I thought this time I am really not feeling well. This was a quake and was properly shaking and I stood up to take video and the quake was increasing unlike the other day. We could see all the hanging things were actually swaying very vibrantly. I was enjoying it as a roller coaster ride. This time I really surprised that nobody was going out. I felt that this is also a normal quake. Suddenly an announcement was made and asked to gather at the evacuation area. We waited there for sometime and some colleagues were able go Internet and find that at Miyagi there was a major earth hit and was around M7 and at Ayase where our office is was around M5.
We went back and we started with our work. I was again getting the dizzy feeling and was very uncomfortable. I could again see the metal curtains sway. There was one long hanging plastic sheet which was slowly shaking. This long quake was making me uncomfortable. Couple of our colleagues thought we will leave. I was confused on whether to leave or stay. It is a 50/50 of risk on both. Atlast I decided to leave. Japanese colleagues did say that the trains aren't running and still we went on as it wasn't comfortable.
We started walking towards the Ebina station. We started hearing the shaking of the shutters. We saw a bus terminal where out of service buses were parked. We were unable stand straight as the land was shaking. I was feeling very dizzy. We saw all the parked buses shaking. Luckily we were standing opposite to a bus stop and also the bus came within two minutes. On the way to station the bus stopped at a traffic signal. The bus was also shaking unevenly due to the quake.
We reached station and saw that there was huge crowd waiting for the bus. There was lot of foam near the station and supermarket workers were cleaning it up. I got to know that the fire extinguisher had fallen and cause the havoc.
At the train station there was only one announcement that due major earth quake the trains have been temporarily stopped. The trains were stopped all over japan at around 2.45pm. The phones were useless as the network was clogged with calls. I wasn't able to call my wife about her whereabouts and neither could she. I felt how helpless we are in front of mother nature.
We waited at the station and expected the trains to resume. Then I suggested that we go to some food joint as it was getting cold. We then moved on to a supermarket and stayed there for couple of hours expecting the trains to resume. We took some snacks and went on planning for contingency plan. Not much was there!!! Taxis not available as roads are all blocked. No direct bus as it is on other direction. As we were having our snacks we experienced couple more tremors. We had nothing more than each other and patience to test us.
We got out of the supermarket as it was making us gloomy and the tremors dizzy. So we went to the station and saw that people were sitting in the train and felt that there is a ray of hope. The trains Might start any moment. We went into the train and again started the long wait. Nothing but the announcement was made saying due to the earthquake we never know when we would start train. Outside temperatures were really cold around 5•C. Good that the heaters inside the train were kept on. We found out that there is a major tsunami expected due quake. It was around past seven and there was no signs of the train being started.
I felt there is no point in waiting for the train as buses were plying. So I checked at train station of any availability of buses to Yokohama which is nearer to our place. The station master gave three buses which we had to take. 1. Chougo ==> 2. Taneba ==> 3.Totsuka ==> Yokohama. (Don't ask me why I didn't take call. It is during such disaster ur thinking becomes very limited.) We then went out for the bus. The queue was very long and buses were crowded. Again the patience was with us.......
We got onto the bus and reached chuogo station. Then we waited long for the next bus. There was some confusion among some on how to reach yokohama. I could help them by directing. A funny thing happened in the bus. A guy was sitting on a two seater chair and was keeping his rucksack on the seat next to him. He wasn't allowing a lady who was requesting him to allow her to sit. He was very reluctant!!! I felt bad and asked the guy to allow her to sit. After some words of exchange he gave in and allowed the lady to sit. The bus started and we were on the way to tateba. As we were on the way, the bus driver made an announcement that the sotetsu line connecting to Yokohama has resumed. We all were rejoiced as it was the fastest way to Yokohama.
We were dropped near Izumi cho station. I was very happy as I could reach home in an hour or so. Announcement was being made that the train would be running slow. I was not sure how far I was from station. I got into the train and saw the route map. I was almost at starting point. The train was stopping at every station for five or more minutes to pick as many stranded people as possible. I at last reached Yokohama with full excitement only to find that this just a start, there is lots to come.
At Yokohama I found that JR trains have been complete stopped due to tsunami. These trains run along the coast and chances of them being washed out are high. I and my colleague were confused. We went around and checked there were lot of people stranded in the station and had planned to stay overnight at station. NTT had started free phone service to call their loved once. We then went on to check the taxi only to find that there is a huge queue, may be around 200+ people. Then we got to know that subway trains have started.
So we asked the volunteers who managing the taxi queue. They told us that there is no direct trains but you can get down at nearest station and either get a bus/taxi if lucky or walk down. My colleague took the subway train and bid good bye. Now for me there wasn't much option either to get a taxi or take chie subway.
I went to subway entrance and saw a station personnel was guiding people. Asked him whether the subway would take me near to Isogo (my area). He told me It is way off for me if I travel on this route. I asked him whether it is possible for me to walked down to Isogo. He told me that he himself came walking to Yokohama in the afternoon and it took him around two hours. I really got surprised with his dedication to work and the enthusiasm with which he was helping people out. He was around fifty plus and if he can, I am being younger I can also walk down. He gave me a warning you can try if you only know the direction. Unfortunately I can't as I am very new and iPhone is low on battery. But really hats off to that guy who was relentlessly helping that person. I first dropped the idea of walking due to directions.
I decided to wait for the taxi. Started following the long endless queue and reached the end of the snake's tale. The line was moving at 10cm for fifteen min. It was quiet cold and felt very useless to stand in the queue. So I thought of going on one of the running subways and reach the nearest station and then walk down.
So I returned to the station and saw the Minatomirai line had started. So I decided on taking it and reaching Motomachi Chugai station. This station is almost ten floors below the earth surface. Well no other go or else have to walk 30 kms. Took the train and got down at last station. From there it was new challenge of finding direction to my place. Station personnel was not aware of the direction as well.
I got out of station and felt so lonely. I saw people were coming to pick their loved once. Had it been in India I would have so many to help me out. Well measured the length of the station twice as I couldn't find people who knew the direction. I found the map board and found a place which direction I need to go. I started to go in a direction I felt I was right. Then I went 100mts and I felt I was wrong. Many buses marked as Yokohama st were going to Yokohama the station from where I came. Then I asked a gentleman who was on coming from opposite direction. He was aware and guided properly.
I started my long Japanese concrete jungle trek. On the way I met guy who was walking down from Tokyo. It took him 7 hrs to reach the Minatomirai st. !!!!! He told me it is a long way for me and felt that I will be able to reach. He came across his destination and I bid him good bye. I continued my long walk. I saw that there were lot of buses plying to Yokohama from Isogo. I was happy and asked the one of bus driver whether the buses are going to Isogo. He did confirm that buses were going but there is no guarantee on time. I could stand in the opposite bus stand. I thought I will walk on the opposite side and if I would stop the bus and get on. I went on for nearly for an hour. On the way I saw few of them were walking. One guy was dragging his leg due to fatigue. I felt really sad for them. My walk went up pedestrian bridges and highway for an hour. Later on there was nobody on the road expect me. It was like going through the woods with wild animals (cars one or two jst drifting away). I saw a taxi put his parking light and wait at a distance. I felt a ray of hope so I quickly went towards it. Before I could reach, the taxi dropped somebody and left. So my walk continued with a song going in mind "yuhi chala chal rahi" (a Hindi song Go on traveller).
Well for my loneliness god gave me company. I saw a guy coming on opposite direction. I asked him the direction only to get a major shock. He told me that I was in the wrong direction and I need to go in the direction I came from. Also he was going towards the same place. I was first shocked but later I saw a beer tin and realized he was drunk. I told him he was wrong and convinced him to join me. He told me that past three hours he has been walking in opposite direction. He was reconfirming whether I was correct. We had nice chit chat on the way. I asked him to read couple of boards which made me realize his eyes were bad. Due this he was wandering in opposite direction. We found taxi parked on the highway and the driver was sleeping with out of service board on. I asked my companion to ask the driver direction. He woke the driver and convinced him to take home. Atlast we reached home safely at three am.
Next day I checked with others their well being and couple of them had similar experience. Later I had realized that I was walking along the coastline. Some in other parts had no electricity or gas connection. All ended well and I should thank the station personnel, people who helped me along. My wife was very bothered and I informed her as soon as i reached. She was safe at her friends place at mishima. Next day there was lot of panic about tsunami and nuclear reactor. My colleague also had reached home safely. This was one of a kind experience for me
