Monday, December 27 2004 14:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Pondicherry: An emergency Central assistance of Rs 25 crores will be given to Pondicherry to face the situation following devastation caused by the tidal waves, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil announced today (Dec 27, 2004).

Patil told reporters that more financial assistance would be given to it after the authorities made an assessment of the damage.

The local authorities gave a brief presentation to Patil of the devastation at the airport in Pondicherry, saying that over 372 people have lost their lives and the Union Territory has suffered an estimated damage to the tune of over Rs 300 crores.

They told him that while 72 people lost their lives in Pondicherry, 372 have died in nearby Karaikal.

Patil was told that 900 people were missing and 50 bodies were still floating in the seawaters and arrangements were being made to take them out.

Over one thousand people injured in the tragedy are being treated and 15,000 houses have been damaged, the Home Minister was told.

Relief camps have been opened in Pondicherry and Karaikal where 55,000 people have been lodged.

Lt Governor M M Lakhera and Chief Minister N Rangaswamy attended the presentation.

The local administration has already announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs one lakh to the next of kin of the dead and Rs 5,000 to the injured persons.