Chennai, December 30
Large-scale panic prevailed throughout Tamil Nadu today seriously affecting rescue and relief operations following an alert by the Union Home Ministry that a fresh tsunami might strike the coastal states in south India due to an under sea earthquake near Australia.

Not only did relief work get affected as a large number of people fled for safety from their homes in the coastal districts of south India but even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited only one relief camp at Kolachel in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu and later only conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas.

Dr Manmohan Singh said his government would provide special care for tsunami-affected women and children and was committed to helping those who had lost everything.

He told the victims: “Life cannot be compensated. But the government will do whatever humanly possible to restart the life with self-respect. I have come here to offer assistance and share your grief.” He said the Centre had already announced Rs 500 crore for the affected states.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa too cut short her tour after visiting Cuddalore and Nagapattinam and returned to the state capital.

The information about a fresh tsunami strike around noon spread like wildfire and people in the worst-hit Nagapattinam district came rushing out of their homes and ran helter shelter looking for refuge.

All, old and young, men, women, children and even policemen ran for their lives as the administration sent the message from house to house instead announcing through a loudspeaker to prevent a stampede. A large number even headed for the neighbouring district town of Thiruvarur, 30 km from there.

While some left on two-wheelers many boarded buses to leave Nagapattinam as early as possible. The December 26 tsunami attack being fresh in their minds villagers from faraway places in the district even walked all way with their belongings.

Even volunteers and rescue workers stopped their work and left for safer places fearing a fresh tsunami attack.

The same scene was witnessed in other tsunami-affected districts of south India. In the southern most district of India in Kanyakumari, people panicked after they heard that anytime between noon and 3 pm there might be another killer tidal wave hitting the tourist town.

In the Union Territory of Pondicherry and Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, which were also badly affected by Sunday’s tsunami, residents deserted their homes on the sea shore and fled inland to be far away from the ocean.

Cuddalore District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi said the administration could not take any chances and evacuated people in 51 villages in the district. He said: “The district administration has also been asked to keep the district under alert. People have been advised to keep away from the low-lying areas near the coast and move to safer places.”

Most of these evacuees had just returned to their villages from the relief camps after Sunday’ tsunami killed around 700 persons in Cuddalore district but were forced out because of the alert.

Mr Bedi said: “Within half an hour, we evacuated the people to safer places.”

In the state capital too, panic prevailed and employees in government offices located on the Marina Beach road reached the upper floors on to the terrace watching the sea. Those working at the light house on the beach too went right up and watched the water level rising apprehending another tidal wave.

The Chennai city police immediately set up barricades and closed all roads leading to the Marina Beach. It evacuated the beach and did not allow anyone to venture out. Even 1,500 workers of the Municipal Corporation, who were clearing the beach of debris, were asked to leave.

Those at the Foreshore Estate, which suffered the most on Sunday, were asked to leave since they had been coming from the relief camps during the day trying to retrieve whatever they could from their damaged homes.