Tuesday, January 4 2005 18:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Government today (Jan 4, 2005) sought a massive Central aid of Rs 4,800 crore and 54,000 tonnes of food grains for the relief and rehabilitation of tsunami victims in the State.

Thanking the Centre for announcing an immediate relief of Rs 250 crore, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, in her letters to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, said the total damage due to Tsunami would "run into several thousands of crores of rupees and will require a more detailed assessment".

Recalling that the Prime Minister had himself seen the devastation when he had visited the state on Dec 27 last, Jayalalithaa said when she had met him on that day, she had informed him 'that given the nature of this calamity, furious and ferocious along the coastline, the normal norms of Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) could not apply and a special package should be developed.

'You had also agreed with this suggestion and indicated that this would be the basis for making the assessment", she said.

"As you have seen for yourself this is a totally unprecedented tragedy of extreme devastation and destruction involving huge loss of lives. It is undoubtedly a calamity of rate severity and a type hitherto quite unknown in India. It calls for a special treatment," she said.