Tsunami toll crosses 5,000 in south India

Tsunami toll crosses 5,000 in south India

Monday, December 27, 2004 (Chennai):

Sunday's deadly tsunami waves have now claimed almost 5,000 lives on India's southeastern coast.

Tamil Nadu is the worst affected where 2,400 people are reported dead while 3000 people have been killed in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

In Pondicherry, at least a 100 people are dead while 89 casualties have been reported from Andhra Pradesh. The toll in Kerala has touched 128.

Quake induced waves

Relief work is continuing across affected areas where tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the devastating waves that originated from Indonesia.

An earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale - the biggest in 40 years - with its epicentre 40 km below sea level, triggered a chain of fast moving waves called Tsunamis.

"In Andaman and Nicobar, the casualties are very high. Sri Lankan government has asked for aid, we are extending co-operation," said Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

An Indian Air Force base has also been washed away in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Toll mounts

In Tamil Nadu, rain is hampering rescue efforts in Nagappattinam where helicopters are unable to land due to rain.

Nagappattinam is the worst affected where 1,420 people are dead.

More than 300 people have died in Cuddalore too while the death toll in the state capital Chennai is 200.

Tsunamis have snuffed out 243 lives in Kanyakumari on the country's southern-most tip while 59 people were killed in Kanchipuram.

Massive relief task

Trying to grapple with the enormity of the Tsunami disaster, rescue and relief work is continuing in Tamil Nadu's coastal areas.

"In Chennai we have problems due to tremor and high tide in 10 low lying areas. We have opened 18 relief centres, organised medical teams and first aid centres," said Vijayakumar, commissioner, Chennai Corporation.

However authorities complain that inquisitive onlookers can hamper the relief effort. This could result in help not reaching those who need it the most - those who have been rendered homeless by the Tsunami.

"We are finding it difficult to localise the distressed people, onlookers are disturbing us, even affected people are reluctant to leave their damaged properties," said Vijayakumar.

The state government is trying to cope with a near impossible situation in terms of rescue and relief - as with natural disasters in any part of the world, this one also took everyone by surprise.

Nearly 15,000 people have now been killed across south and southeast Asia after a massive earthquake off the coast of Indonesia on Sunday at 6.30 am (IST) triggered a series of killer waves called Tsunamis.

news from ndtv.com

(With PTI inputs)