The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Salem News : Prayers organised in memory of the deceased

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 28, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Salem

Prayers organised in memory of the deceased

By Our Special Correspondent

SALEM, DEC. 27. Various fora and organisations organised silent prayers in memory of those who were killed in the seismic tidal waves that hit coastal Tamil Nadu on Sunday. Poojas in memory of the deceased were also performed in temples in the city and its suburbs.

At the Collectorate, employees and the general public, led by the Collector, A. Sukumaran, observed a two-minute silence to pay homage to the dead. The Mayor, R. Sureshkumar, and the Commissioner, T. Paulsamy, led the memorial prayers in the Salem Corporation. Mr. A. Sukumaran asked the public to contribute liberally to the Chief Minister's General Relief Fund.

Information centre

Mr. A. Sukumaran opened an information centre at the Collectorate. People here can contact 0427-2451172 to get information about relatives and friends in the affected areas. They can also obtain information about those who had gone to the affected coastal areas from Salem.

Many political outfits and organisations announced the withdrawal of their agitations as a mark of respect. The Salem district secretary of the United Communist Party of India (UCPI), K. K. Ganesan, said that the UCPI expressed its condolences to the bereaved families and asked the Government to provide a dwelling place for those living on the seashore. He added that the relief measures should reach the needy without fail.

The auto drivers in the city also expressed their grief by pasting condolence posters. Many functions and festivities connected with the New Year's Eve have been postponed for a day. Voluntary agencies such as the Rotary Club also participated in the relief operations.

Food packets sent

Our Erode Staff Reporter reports:

The Collector, D. Karthikeyan, today urged people to contribute to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. A medical team would be sent to Chennai, he said in a press release.

Revenue officials wore black badges to duty today and decided to contribute one day's salary to the affected.

In schools and colleges, students observed silence for five minutes condoling the deaths.

On behalf of the Sakthi Masala, 48,000 bread loaves and 2,000 food packets were despatched to Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Villupuram and Chennai.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

Seismograph at Salem earth station fails to record tsunami

Prayers organised in memory of the deceased