Monday, December 27 2004 14:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangkok: An Indian national was among the 700 people killed and thousands injured by the killer tsunami in southern Thailand, officials said today (Dec 27, 2004).

"The dead was identified as Mrs Sangeeta Tusmar Snah," Charge d' affaires of the Indian Embassy in Bangkok T P Seetharam said.

He said that the embassy was trying to establish the identity of the victim. The spelling given by the Thai authorities could be inaccurate, he said, adding that the first name seemed clear.

Nothing more is known about the dead.

The embassy has also set up a 'direct help line' in Bangkok to help relatives locate their near and dear ones. The phone number is - 00-662-2604166.

Seetharam said that a senior embassy official had to be sent last night to Phuket, which was badly ravaged by the giant waves, to help Indian nationals. The official is based at the city centre along with other foreign diplomats.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that between 600 and 700 people were killed when the tidal wave and flooding struck the resort island of Phuket and surrounding region yesterday (Dec 26, 2004).