The Marina beach presents a picture of a mud swathe after a deadly giant wave swept over it on Sunday morning. Photo: R.Ragu

New Delhi, Dec. 26 (PTI): Over a thousand people have been killed in tidal waves in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, said today.

Tamil Nadu was the "worst affected" with possibly over 800 people killed, Patil told reporters here after a meeting of the Crisis Management Group (CMG) here.

In Andhra Pradesh, over 200 people were feared killed, he said.

In Andaman, as many as 14 people were killed, the Home Minister said, adding that the damage due to the tidal wave in Car Nicobar and Greater Andamans was "higher" but details were yet to come in due to snapping of communication links.

Patil said that coastal areas of West Bengal had also suffered damage but he had not been able to contact Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, as yet.

He said he is likely to visit the affected areas either this evening or tomorrow.