Friday, May 20 2005 17:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Nagercoil (TN): Sea water partially submerged around 10 coastal villages following high tide, causing damage to around 700 fishermen's dwellings and injuring seven persons in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu.

District Collector Sunil Paliwal told reporters that the seven injured had been taken to nearby hospital for treatment.

The rising waves flooded fishermen villages of Erayumanthurai, Boothurai, Malloorthurai, Vallavilai, Midalam, Enayam, Enayampullenthurai, Marthandamthurai, Neerodi and Thuthoor located on the west coast of the district, which was hit by the December 26 tsunamis.

The affected people were moved to safer places.

Paliwal said some of the camps set up for tsunami victims of the area had also been affected.

A team of officials led by District Revenue Officer Iyyanar have rushed to the villages to assess the situation and for taking further action.

Meanwhile, people of Vallavilai and Thuthoor villages staged road blocks in their respective places protesting against official "apathy".

This is for the second time in the last one week sea water had flooded coastal villages of the district. On Wednesday night, water had entered Erayumanthurai village, damaging one house.