The Hindu : Kerala News : Government to rebuild tsunami-ravaged villages

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Government to rebuild tsunami-ravaged villages

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 28. The State Government today vowed to rebuild the Tsunami-ravaged villages of Alappad and Arattupuzha villages and make the process of rehabilitating the affected people a perfect one.

"We do not intent to restrict the process to a mere doling out of compensations. Both villages are totally devastated. We will rebuild all the houses and public amenities (destroyed by the seismic waves)," the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, announced after a meeting of the Cabinet here today.

Rescue workers searching among the wreckage of the houses flattened by the waves came up with more bodies today. Eight bodies were recovered in Alappad village in Kollam district. In Arattupuzha village in Alappuzha district, an 85-year-old man injured in the Tsunami attack died in hospital today.

With these, the total death count went up to 170, according to reports from our news bureaux. (The official count announced by Mr. Chandy today is 157.)

The Chief Minister announced a month's free ration to the affected families.

He convened an all-party meeting here today to gather the views of the political parties on what further need be done for the villagers. The Government called upon the people to contribute liberally to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the victims.The leader of the Opposition at the Centre, L. K. Advani, today visited the two villages and urged the Government to institute an insurance scheme for those residing in the coastal regions of the country. He said this was a national calamity, a time when people should work with unity to take relief to the victims.

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

Kerala