I just saw a horrific report on TV that in Nagapattinam, one of the worst affected districts in Tamil Nadu, there aren't enough people to clear dead bodies and those that are helping are hesitating to do so.  So the authorities are importing ''scavengers'' (sanitary workers) from Madurai to dispose off the dead.

9:13:34 PM    comment []  trackback []

The Indian government has announced plans for installing a tsunami early warning system in the wake of the Indian Ocean disaster. 

"If the country had had such an alert system in place, we could have warned the coastal areas of the imminent danger and avoided the loss of life," said Kapil Sibal, India's minister of state for science and technology."

Details here.

8:33:31 PM    comment []  trackback []

This is neat !

Free text messages to and from earthquake countries.

In a generous gesture, Chatbar announces a free SMS service to help contact families and friends affected by Asian earthquake. Free SMS messages can be via ChatBar to or from the following countries:

Bangladesh
India
Indonesia
Malaysia
Maldives
Sri Lanka
Thailand

SMS messages sent to mobile phones of foreign nationals roaming in those countries will also be provided free by ChatBar, although separate charges may be applied by some carriers. Relevant parties should utilize the following links:

-- for English

-- for Simplified Chinese

-- for Traditional Chinese

-- for Tagalog

Paul Roberts, Director, ForgetMeNot Software, stated "We are all shocked and stunned by the devastation wrought by the earthquake. In an effort to help, we wanted to make the functionality of ChatBar available free to everyone who needs to communicate with loved ones at this difficult time. Experience has shown that SMS messages may get through to mobile phones even though voice networks may be overloaded." Those people without a mobile phone but access to an internet connected PC can still send and receive SMS messages through the service."

cf related Tsunami/cell phone stories posted in Textually.org. [Smart Mobs]

7:26:35 PM    comment []  trackback []

Number of dead as at December 29, 5.05 pm IST :

Total : 65,000
Indonesia : 32,0000
Sri Lanka : 25,000
India : 10,000
Thailand : 1500
Malaysia: 60
Myanmar: 30
Maldives: 52
Somalia: 100
Tanzania: 10
Kenya: 1
Seychelles: 3
Bangladesh: 2

And the UN Health Agency warns that outbreaks of diseases could double the deaths.

[Source : NDTV]

6:31:53 PM    comment []  trackback []