Chennai, December 31
Five days after the killer tsunami struck the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, normalcy is limping back but marked with protests in many places against distribution of relief while the state’s tourism industry suffered heavy losses.

The state administration had in the past dealt with cyclones and floods but it is not equipped to handle a tragedy of such a magnitude which hit the coastal areas without any warning.

It is now overburdened with the massive work of rebuilding the homes of those displaced, carry out extensive healthcare to prevent epidemic and at the same time provide relief.

At the same time it is drawing up lists of persons entitled to compensation for loss of lives, property and fishing equipment according to the package announced by the state government.

As usual there have been complaints of discrimination while relief was provided and there were protests in many places in the state, include the state capital.

At Nagapattinam, the worst-hit tsunami-hit coastal district 250 kms south of here, residents complained of inadequate relief while in Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, fishermen protested for not receiving relief on time.

At the Foreshore Estates here, a section of the victims blocked traffic on Beach Road this morning alleging discrimination in distributing relief. They alleged that a section of the victims in the area totally destroyed by Sunday’s killer tidal wave were being deprived of relief and compensation.

However, the state government has left no stone unturned and even deputed senior ministers in many districts to oversee relief operations and restoration and repair of properties destroyed.

These teams were supervising the distribution of rice, blankets and clothes to those who lost everything within minutes on Sunday morning.

The Chennai Municipal Corporation today deployed 1,500 workers to clean the Marina beach of the debris and repair the benches and dividers.

Huge cranes were used to lift fishing boats and catamarans which were swept ashore due to the force of the tidal waves and restored to their owners.

However, people have been prohibited from celebrating the New Year on the beach.

Many districts which suffered heavy casualties claimed to have prevented the outbreak of an epidemic by organising fast burial and cremations.