TN Govt delayed tsunami relief work: Vaiko

He praised Pondicherry Chief Minister for personally visiting places in the UT and supervising relief and rescue work.

MDMK on Thursday accused the Tamil Nadu government of "wreckless negligence" in delaying rescue and relief work after the devastating tsunami hit the state.

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"It is a colossal failure on the part of the government. It is deplorable and condemnable," MDMK General Secretary Vaiko told reporters in Chennai.

It took more than 48-hours for the Tamil Nadu government to swing into action, he said.

Making it clear that he was not making the observations out of a "political motive", Vaiko said he had visited many of the affected places for three days from December 27 and everywhere he had visited the general complaint from the affected people was that none of the officials had come to their help.

"Wherever I went, only heart rending scenes could be witnessed. But I could see no official coming forward to help. Though there were police, they did not have any direction from their higher ups," he said.

He praised Pondicherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy for personally visiting places in the Union Territory and supervising relief and rescue work.

Vaiko said he saw people from Red Cross, local people and volunteers of non-governmental organisations providing food and shelter to the affected and clearing bodies at Poompuhar, Tarangambadi, Cuddalore, Akkaraipettai in Nagapattinam and Keezhamanakudi and Melmanakudi in Kanyakumari.