Rs 500 cr relief plan, tsunami toll 10,000

Aftershocks in Andamans, rescue workers scour beaches, coastal towns and resorts for survivors

The Centre has announced a package of Rs 500 crore for relief in areas wrecked by the tsunami waves. Further requests of relief from the state governments will be also be provided for.

"The final death toll may be very high," Finance Minister P Chidambaram disclosed after the Cabinet met to take stock of the situation. The death toll might exceed 10,000.

"Seventy-seven servicemen have died in the Andamans, where the damage to the equipment is yet to be assessed. The Cabinet has endorsed the relief and rehabilitation measures mounted by state governments and the Centre has offered full cooperation. It has asked the Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard to assist in relief and rescue." Chidambaram said.

At the meeting, the Cabinet noted that the Prime Minister has promised Rs 1 lakh relief to every family for each life lost.

"The Cabinet has directed the Union home ministry to prepare a special package for Car Nicobar islands. Andaman is a special responsibility of the Centre and home ministry funds will be made available," he added.

Chidambaram disclosed that the damage to economic installations in the tsunami-affected areas was minimal. "The Chennai port will reopen day after tomorrow. Except for minor damage to small ships at the Chennai port, no damage has been reported at any of the ports. The runway at Port Blair is damaged but is still being used," he said.

The Centre has advised the states to come forward to build houses. Pointing out that the majority of the homeless were fishermen, Chidambaram disclosed that the Cabinet has authorised funding for housing through the Indira Awaas Yojana.

The disaster is being equated with the super cyclone of Orissa and the revised norms for relief which came into effect in August 2001 would be applicable for the ongoing relief measures.

Speaking on the help being extended to Sri Lanka and Maldives, he said, "Small aircraft and ships have been sent to Sri Lanka and Maldives. Heavy transport aircraft with relief material are on standby to take off to Maldives as required.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, meanwhile, has reached Port Blair to co-ordinate relief and rehabilitation and the finance minister will be touring parts of Tamil Nadu for the next two days. A Cabinet committee would to meet twice a day to have an overview of the relief work.

The count of the dead in the killer tsunami tidal waves rose by leaps and bounds to over 24,000 in south and south-east Asia, including more than 10,000 in India alone, as the horrific scale of death and destruction unfolded today, 24 hours after the disaster struck.

Tamil Nadu and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were the worst affected in India accounting for more than 6,000 deaths. Over 2,000 people are missing and feared dead in Car Nicobar Islands, the closest Indian territory to the epicentre of the quake in Sumatra.

"More than 3,000 people have been killed, it is now confirmed and the casualties may go up," said SB Deol IGP, Andaman and Nicobar Island. Powerful aftershocks measuring six on the Richter scale rocked the islands today at around 6.20 am.

Tamil Nadu bore the brunt of the nature's fury with 1,725 people losing their lives in the state and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, closest to Sumatra coast, the epicentre of the 8.9 magnitude quake on the Richter scale, was also equally badly hit accounting for 1,000 deaths, including 23 Air Force personnel and their family members, and suffering extensive damage.