The pump is operated by the Andaman and Nicobar Integrated Development Company. Biswajeet Roy, who is in charge, has been working with the company for 12 years. "The consumption of petrol has remained the same before and after the tsunami," he tells us, "but the sale of diesel has fallen. The sale of petrol has remained stable at 850 litres a day. Diesel has dropped from 1,600 litres to 1,000 litres a day." The local government is his biggest customer.

Arumugam Natesan hails from Kuntrathur, near Poonamallee, close to Chennai in Tamil Nadu. He has lived on the island since 1969. He looks tired, haggard, and hasn't shaved in days. "All that we earned from 1969 was wiped out in an hour," he recalls. "I owned two homes and a shop, all in my own buildings. I lost Rs 26 lakh. We spent three days in the hills in fear."

"What the tsunami did not destroy was looted. Sixty people died in this bazaar alone," he adds.

When we mentioned the government figure of 58 dead on the island, he laughs out loud.

He has received Rs 13,000 to repair his house and Rs 10,000 for his shop. "Those who lost Rs 26 lakh were given Rs 10,000. A teashop owner got the same amount," he says cynically.

Earlier: Priyanka gets a home

Complete coverage: Waves of Destruction