The devastating tidal waves that swept across several coastal districts of Tamil Nadu today, had left at least 1567 people dead, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said here on Sunday.
Nagapattinam recorded the maximum number of 788 deaths, followed by Cuddalore 290, Kanniyakumari 261 and Chennai 128, she told reporters at Meenambakkam airport tonight on return from an aerial survey of some of the affected districts earlier.
She said the casualty figure might go up with rescue and relief works still in progress. She announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs.One lakh to the families of each of the victims.
Pointing out that she had asked the centre for "liberal financial assistance" to meet the contingency, the Chief Minister said she would visit the worst affected Nagapattinam district tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala conveyed his deep shock and grief at the calamity that hit Chennai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Kanniyakumari and other coastal areas where "more than 2000 precious lives have been lost and several are missing."
During her aerial survey, she said she had seen in several places like Mamallapuram, tidal waves sweeping across and sea water gushing onto the roads. The worst hit districts were Nagapattinam and Cuddalore where even 'pucca' houses had collapsed. Fishing boats were thrown out and everything had been smashed.
"It was a terrible sight at Nagapattinam. I have no words to express the extent of damage," she said adding she had asked the Nagapattinam Collector to provide all help to those who were rendered homeless.
{{/usCountry}}"It was a terrible sight at Nagapattinam. I have no words to express the extent of damage," she said adding she had asked the Nagapattinam Collector to provide all help to those who were rendered homeless.
{{/usCountry}}Special team of doctors would be rushed to Nagapattinam district. Doctors had been instructed to take preventive measures against outbreak of epidemics.
Giving the break-up of the casualties, Jayalalithaa said Kancheepuram district had reported 59 deaths, followed by Villupuram 23, Tiruvallur 13 and others accounting for the balance.
Meanwhile, Union Ministers, Dayanidhi Maran and Mani Shankar Aiyer, visited some of the affected areas.
Another ship, Gem of Tuticorin, which was discharging bulk raw sugar, was damaged by "the impact of the ship Kesava." About 1500 tonnes of raw sugar was in the hatch. "The cargo thereafter started leaking into the basin," a release said.
Six empty containers drifted into the sea and were floating inside the port. A fishing trawler (seized by the Customs) berthed in west quay sank into the basin, the release added.