No.32-5/2004-NDM-I
Government of India
Ministry of Home Affairs

 Subject:      Tsunami impact (26^th December 2004) in A &N Islands, UT of Pondicherry and other coastal States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala –Relief, Rehabilitation and other follow up measures

             The Tsunamis have caused extensive damage in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the States of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and UT of Pondicherry. Aftershock activity is still continuing and 132 aftershocks have been reported so far (121 between  >5.0-6.0< and 11 are > 6.0 on Richter scale). The death toll is at 10,744.  The total number of missing persons is at 5669 of which 5583 are from A&N Islands , who are feared to be dead.  The details of deaths, missing and relief camps are given in the Annexure.

 2.         The first phase of relief and rescue operations is over in the affected States/UTs except A&N Islands where it will continue for some more days. The focus now is mainly on providing temporary shelters for those who have lost their houses, provide wage employment, restore infrastructure and rehabilitate the affected people so that they can begin their normal life. 17,680 tents have been dispatched to the affected States/UTs of which 15,612 tents have been dispatched to A&N Islands . In addition, CGI sheets are being dispatched/delivered to the affected States/UTs for construction of temporary shelters. 46,375 GI sheets have already been dispatched till 16.1.2005. An order has been placed with Steel Authority of India Limited for supply of 2,94,000 CGI sheets which will be shipped to A& N Islands for construction of temporary shelters. 

 3.         The fishermen of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu braving their grief have resumed fishing activity. More than 40,000 fishermen have ventured into sea in Tamil Nadu itself. The State Governments are making efforts for early resumption of normal life. Most of the schools in the affected areas have been reopened in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Pondicherry . Now the provision shops and schools have started opening in Port Blair. All Relief camps have been closed in Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry . People from relief camps in Kerala and Tamil Nadu have started going back to their villages and numbers of relief camps and persons accommodated in these camps have reduced. However, relief camps in A&N Islands have increased and more people are being accommodated. People in the relief camps are being provided cooked food. There is no report of any scarcity of food, water, medicines etc. Medical teams have been deployed in relief camps and hygiene is being maintained. There is no report of outbreak of any epidemic.

 4.         A total of 7433.81 MT relief materials have been dispatched/delivered to affected States/UTs of which 5374.52 MT (945.82 MT by Air, 3269.55 MT by ship and 2252.09 by Rail) has been dispatched/delivered to A&N Islands comprising of 1378.38 MT food items, 1161.64 MT drinking water, 174.87 MT medicines/disinfectant, 15,612 tents, 745 Gen. Sets, 92 Pump sets, 3 Desalination Plants and 13 vehicles.

 5.         The efforts of the Ministries/Departments of Government of India in brief may kindly be seen at http://www.ndmindia.nic.in/tsunami2004/ministry.htm

   

(S.K. Swami)
Director (NDM.I)
Tel: 23092698/Fax 23093750
Mobile : 9811061089
Email: tsunami@nic.in