The Hindu Business Line : Tsunami kills 61 in AP

Triggered by the massive quake that had hit the Sumatra Island in Indonesia, the tidal waves lashed the entire 972-kilometre long coastline in the State.

The seismic energy released by the earthquakes in oceans triggered large tidal waves that travelled thousands of kilometres.

Dr Rajasekhara Reddy, Chief Minister, who visited Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna districts in the evening, has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh for the kin of the deceased adults and Rs 50,000 for the kin of children died due to the swirling seawaters.

Addressing newsmen at the Begumpet airport after his visit, Dr Reddy said the there was not much property loss.

The National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), a leading earthquake research institute, has recorded the earthquake with a magnitude of 8.5 on Richter scale at 6.28 a.m.

Terming the disaster as worst ever caused by tidal waves in the country, Dr R.K. Chadha, a senior NGRI seismologist, told Business Line that it was the first time that so many people were killed by tsunamis triggered by an earthquake in India.

Four villages in Prakasam, three villages in Guntur district and one hamlet in West Godavari district were flooded with seawater. Several hundred families were evacuated.

Krishna district reported maximum number of deaths (24), followed by Prakasam (23) and Nellore (7).

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has deputed Mr Shivraj Patil, Union Home Minister, to Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to take stock of the situation. Mr Patil was to arrive on Sunday night.

The Centre has pressed Coast Guard into service to help the State machinery in relief work.

In Guntur district, nearly 50 fishermen were located stranded off the shores. "Efforts are on to rescue them," Dr Reddy said.

Mr Dharmana Prasada Rao, Revenue Minister, said SHAR Space Centre (Sriharikota) was shut down with floodwater entering the centre. He, however, said there were no reports of damage as yet.

Earlier addressing a press conference, he said two helicopters from Chennai and one from Hyderabad were pressed into service.

A control room was set up at the Secretariat to monitor the situation. A helpline too was set up with phone no 23456005.

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