PRESS STATEMENT of the Hon'ble CM on the Calamity that struck Coastal tamil Nadu

It is with great grief and profound sorrow that I wish to state that Tamil Nadu has been struck by an extraordinary calamity of unprecedented proportions and extreme ferocity. It all seems to have happened in the space of 20 minutes today (26.12.2004) all along the Tamil Nadu Coast. A massive tidal wave of extreme ferocity caused by the effect of the earthquake or tsunami off the Indonesian Coast hit the Tamil Nadu coast and smashed everything in sight to smithereens. It is an extraordinary calamity of such colossal proportions that the damage has been unprecedented.

Immediately on learning about this terrible tragedy, I pressed the entire State machinery into action to undertake rescue and relief operations. I also immediately despatched Ministers and Senior IAS Officers to assist the Collectors and the District Administration to organize and take up relief and rescue operations.

The Hon’ble Prime Minister spoke to me at 12.05 P.M. and assured me of all assistance from the Government of India to the State Government to meet this unprecedented calamity. I apprised the Prime Minister of the details of the calamity as they were emerging and the action taken by the State Government.

After gathering immediately available details of the devastation I took up an aerial survey of the affected areas. In my aerial survey of the Chennai area I covered Ennore, Chennai Harbour, Marina Beach, Pattinapakkam, Srinivasapuram, Besant Nagar, Kottivakkam and Neelankarai. I could see boats strewn around, badly smashed. The sea water had come right in crossing the road and inundating several houses which suffered heavy damages.

My aerial inspection between Chennai and Cuddalore indicated that at several places including Mamallapuram, Kalpakkam, Marakkanam and several other coastal villages, the tidal wave had engulfed the habitations and caused immense havoc. Houses have collapsed along the coast line.

At Cuddalore, the devastation is severe. Fishing boats have been smashed. Houses have collapsed. A large number of deaths have occurred in the Cuddalore area which has suffered heavy damages.

I took up a detailed aerial survey of the Nagapattinam area covering Kodiakkarai, Velankanni, Akkarai, Nagapattinam, Nagore and other coastal villages. The giant tidal wave has smashed through everything in sight. Houses have been flattened. Even pucca houses have been destroyed. Fishing boats have been thrown one over the other in a mangled heap. Buses, vans and auto-rickshaws have been smashed to smithereens. It was a terrible sight. I am shocked and I have no words to describe the devastation. In Velankanni, Akkarai and Nagore the death toll is very large. I could see dead bodies all around and the devastation is of colossal proportions.

On landing at Nagapattinam, I gave instructions to the District Collector to carry through the search, rescue and relief operations which have been organized well. The Collector indicated that the injured are being given treatment and on his request I gave instructions on the spot for additional teams of Doctors and Health personnel to be organized from Thanjavur and other neighbouring districts. I also gave instructions to the Collectors to take preventive action through the Public Health Department to prevent any outbreak of disease. I have instructed the Collectors to provide shelter to all the homeless and organize food packets for them.

The extremely high death toll in the space of a few minutes shows clearly that it is one of the worst calamities to hit the country. The number of deaths could be more as the rescue operations are still on. The Nagapattinam area is the worst affected. Cuddalore, Kanniyakumari, Kancheepuram and Chennai districts have also been severely affected. The damage is along the entire coast line of Tamil Nadu. As per the reports so far received from the Collectors the death toll is 1705. The break up is as follows:

Name of the District	No. of casualties
Chennai	131
Kancheepuram	61
Tiruvallur	13
Cuddalore	290
Villupuram	23
Nagapattinam	788
Thoothukudi	2
Tirunelveli	4
Kanniyakumari	392
Thanjavur	1
Total	1705

The entire administration has been fully geared up to take up search, rescue and relief operations. The immediate priority was to shift all those affected to relief camps and provide them food and shelter. Lakhs of people have been moved to relief camps and provided shelter and food. They will be accommodated in the relief camps till suitable alternative arrangements can be made. Arrangements have been made to treat all the injured persons who have been affected by drowning and also by building collapses. The entire Police Force has been pressed into service to arrange to take up search and rescue operations. The Directorate of Fire & Rescue Services has taken up relief and rescue operations all along the coast line. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has arranged special line patrols to identify the snapped lines, damaged poles and restore supply in stages. All Electricity rectification works will be completed on a war footing. Special attention has been given to tracing the whereabouts of fishermen who may have been caught in the sea.

Arrangements are being made to ensure that the relatives of the dead are contacted and arrangements made for their funeral. The Hospitals along the coast line and neighbouring interior districts have been geared up to handle all the cases of the injured. Public Health authorities have been alerted all along the coast line to take preventive action to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

Immediately on return to Chennai, His Excellency, the President of India spoke to me. I apprised him of the enormity of the calamity and the measures taken by the State Government. His Excellency the President of India conveyed his profound condolences to the people affected by this calamity and assured me of all assistance required by the State Government. I thanked His Excellency, the President of India for his gracious gesture of support.

I have sanctioned an immediate relief of Rs.1 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund to each of the affected families. Other relief and rehabilitation measures on a long term basis will be taken up after a detailed survey.

J JAYALALITHAA