Thursday, January 6 2005 16:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Centre today (Jan 6, 2005) put the preliminary estimate of financial loss in the December 26 tsunami in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Pondicherry at Rs 5322.05 crore even as the death toll rose to 9,682.

According to the latest status report released by Home Ministry, the preliminary estimates of the loss for Tamil Nadu were Rs 2730.70 crore, Andhra Pradesh Rs 720.73 crore, Kerala 1358.62 crore and Pondicherry Rs 512 crore, a total of $ 1.18 billion.

The details for Andaman and Nicobar were still being worked out, the report said.

The report said that as many as 12 Indian nationals were killed in tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Thailand and Indonesia.

Another 12-15 Indians were reported missing in Sri Lanka, it said.

As many as 111 after shocks were reported in the affected areas after the December 26 disaster out of which 99 were between five and six on the Richter scale.

The number of missing in the affected States and Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar was put at 6,011, the report said.

It said a close watch was being kept on the outbreak of epidemic in these areas and all precautionary steps had been taken to prevent it.

A total of 1922.20 Metric Tonnes relief material had been delivered to Andaman and Nicobar Island comprising 499.90 MT of food, 486.14 MT drinking water, 104.24 MT medicines and disinfectant, 10,045 tents, 25,562 torches, 715 generators and 82 pump sets.

The Centre had also pressed sniffer dogs in Nicobar to trace dead from the rubble besides find the missing persons who may have gone deep into jungles to save themselves from the wrath of tsunami.

R Bhattacharya, an IAS officer of 1978 batch from Andhra Pradesh Cadre, has been appointed by the Government as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Home Affairs. He will look after the work relating to reconstruction, infrastructure and housing in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Helipad at Katchal Island was also made operational, it said and added that efforts were on to clear the road between Little Andamans and Hut Bay.

Out of the 38 inhabited islands, 30 were affected and survey of all islands had been completed. The islands with small population like Bamboka, Chowra, Little Nicobar, Pilo Millow, Trinket and Tilanchang in Nicobar had been completely evacuated.

Besides keeping a watch to prevent any outbreak of epidemic, the focus of the medical efforts was also on counselling the survivors to deal with their trauma and overcome psychological fears.

About 94 doctors consisting of 23 physicians including six psychiatrists, 42 General Duty Medical Officers and 20 nurses have been mobilised from Central Government institutions to the affected areas.

Additional psychiatrists were being mobilised to affected areas for addressing psychological issues.