Press Trust of India Posted online: Monday, December 27, 2004 at 1325 hours IST
Thiruvananthapuram, December 27: The toll in tsunami-battered Kerala mounted to 138 with more bodies being recovered since late last night.
Kollam district accounted for the highest toll of 106 followed by Alappuzha 28 and Ernakulam four, according to official sources here. The toll is likely to go up as rescue teams led by navy and police are continuing the search for bodies trapped in collapsed houses. The terrain had turned slushy by surging sea waters in worst hit places like Alappad area in Kollam and Arattupuzha in Alappuzha.
An emergency meeting of the state cabinet today decided to provide Rs one lakh each for each adult and Rs 50,000 each child killed in the tragedy. The cabinet reviewed the rehabilitation and relief measures as around 32,000 people were living in 115 camps opened in the affected areas.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said teams of ministers had been deputed to oversee the relief activities in different districts. The district administrations had been instructed to hand over the bodies to relatives stripping off official formalities. The state would bear the medical expenses of over 700 people admitted to hospitals with injuries.
