The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Death toll rises to 198

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 30, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Death toll rises to 198

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, DEC. 29. With the recovery of more bodies along Chennai's coastline, the death toll in Sunday's tsunami strike has gone up to 198.

Bodies of two women were fished out from a hut near the backwaters at Srinivasapuram in Foreshore Estate on Wednesday. Residents and Corporation workers involved in clearing the debris from the area said they felt a strong stench near a group of clustered huts beside the tenements in Srinivasapuram. They broke through the wall and the thatched structure and found the bodies.

Residents said those staying in the huts had left the place soon after the water receded and had taken shelter in relief camps. For the past three days, the huts were left intact for the benefit of assessing damage by revenue officials. The City Police Commissioner, R. Nataraj, said the police registered 89 cases of missing persons in the city. About 20 of the complaints pertained to those who had come to the Marina Beach for morning walks on Sunday. Twelve unidentified bodies were kept at the mortuary in the Government Royapettah Hospital, Mr. Nataraj said .

Health care

Providing health care to the affected families was the priority now, the Corporation Commissioner, M.P. Vijayakumar, said. Mobile medical units, with the assistance of the Indian Medical Association and the Montfort Community Development Foundation, have been providing health care facilities in the affected areas. Several Government agencies and voluntary organisations have come forward to provide food, clothing and water to the affected fishermen.

Corporation health officials said the dwellers were mostly suffering from pains and injuries. The medical teams had so far treated 300 patients with injuries and about 600 suffering from pain in the legs, back and shoulders. A mild eye infection was also detected in 10 persons.

Besides, to prevent open defecation and the spread of disease, the civic body has provided two mobile toilets for the Srinivasapuram area.

More than 340 evacuees from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, who arrived by special flights arranged by Air India on Thursday, have been sheltered at two Chennai Corporation-run community centres at Muthial Street and Model School Street in Teynampet.

The Government has made arrangements to send the victims to their native places in the State tomorrow. Nearly 70 persons who wanted to leave tonight have been allowed to go.

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