Prabitha Ramlukan's home now.
Image: Monishka Govender
For 59-year-old retired bakery supervisor Prabitha Ramlukan, of Sandfields Road, the two-year anniversary of the tornado that ripped through Tongaat is a painful reminder of both personal loss and resilience.
Other than her home being extensively damaged, the tornado claimed the life of her nephew, Arvin Ramluckan, a 37-year-old boilermaker.
"My nephew and his friend were returning from work when they heard a loud noise. They saw what appeared to be a massive wall of white smoke approaching.
"They could not run because the wind was strong. His friend managed to get under a car, but Arvin was pushed by the wind. A wall from a nearby property collapsed on him," she said.
Residents rushed to help, but emergency assistance was delayed because debris and uprooted trees blocked the roads.
"People tried their best to help him, but they could not. The roads were blocked and it took a long time for help to get into Sandfields."
Arvin suffered severe injuries, primarily to his head and back. He was initially taken to a local hospital before being transferred elsewhere due to capacity constraints.
"The tornado happened on a Monday, and he passed away on the Thursday," said Ramlukan.
His death devastated the family, and his wife eventually relocated.
Ramlukan said she was alone at home that day, and that her sister had warned her about severe weather conditions developing elsewhere. As a precaution, she charged her cellphone and a torch.
Moments later, she heard an unfamiliar roar.
She thought: "What is this plane trying to do, land on my roof?"
Curious, she looked out of her bedroom window.
"I saw white smoke approaching along the river. Then I saw a jackfruit tree flying through the air."
The destroyed home.
Image: Supplied
Within seconds, the tornado was overhead.
"Next, the window shattered on my head."
Ramlukan was trapped in a corner of her room as furniture, cupboards and personal belongings were ripped away by the violent winds.
"For some reason, a few weeks earlier, I repositioned the headboard. That small gap saved me. Everything in my room flew away."
The roof and ceiling were torn off entirely.
"When it stopped and I looked up, I could see the sky. It was so bright, like nothing happened."
Bleeding heavily from a head wound, she made her way downstairs through broken glass.
"I did not even realise how badly I was hurt. I was more worried about my family."
Prabitha Ramlukan suffered injuries to her face after her bedroom window shattered during the tornado. Her home’s roof was also torn off.
Image: Nadia Khan
Her son, a former nurse, dressed the wound after neighbours provided assistance
She said newly-purchased appliances, furniture, clothing and personal belongings were lost. Only a sofa and two cupboards survived the storm.
Without insurance, rebuilding was a slow and difficult process. Assistance from relief organisations and sponsors helped them restore the house over several months.
"We were lucky because we still had the downstairs area. We slept there for months. At first, my son and I slept on the floor."
She said neighbours and community members stepped in to help.
"One neighbour gave us a bed that someone had donated to them. That is how we managed."
Today, although much of the home had been repaired, Ramlukan said she was no longer worried about replacing every lost possession.
"If you have a roof over your head and a comfortable bed, that is enough."
Two years later, memories of the tornado remain vivid. The grief of losing her nephew, the trauma of surviving the storm, and the long road to recovery continue to shape her life.
"Nobody should have to go through what we went through,” said Ramlukan.