Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has pledged ‘‘all possible Central support and assistance’’ to the states affected by the tidal wave and asked the Defence and Home ministers to provide adequate relief to those affected by the tragedy. The Prime Minister said he had also written to the Presidents of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Maldives and and the Prime Minister of Thailand and ofered assistance to tide over the crisis. Prez appeals for help NEW DELHI: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has appealed to philanthropists and social organisations to come forward to provide relief to the affected people. In a televised message to the nation, President Kalam said, ‘‘I suggest philanthropists and social organisations come forward and mount a programme for assisting the needy.’’ The President also called off his visit to Assam scheduled to begin tomorrow. Chautala Rs 5-cr aid NEW DELHI: Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala on Sunday announced an assistance of Rs 5 crore for rescue and relief operations in the states affected by the tidal waves. According to a state government release, Chautala has offered to provide medical aid and essential commodidites to the people affected by Sunday’s tragedy. ‘More tremors likely’ CHENNAI: The Regional Meteorological Office here has not ruled out a repeat of Sunday’s tragedy. ‘‘As a result of continued seismic activity off Indonesia and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, aftershocks may continue to be felt for some more days in Chennai and coastal Tamil Nadu. More tremors and inundation are likely,’’ P. S. Rao, Meteorologist, RMO said on Sunday. X-mas saves lives TIRUNELVELI: Many fishermen who were spared from the tragedy had this to thank for — that the tsunami struck on the day just after Christmas. Fishermen who would otherwise have been at sea celebrated Sabbath and stayed away from the sea because it was the day after Christmas. Jinxed 26? Is the 26th date jinxed? This was one thought that was doing the rounds in Chennai on Sunday immediately after the catastrophic tsunami. The past two earthquakes in India occurred on the 26th. The devastating quake in Gujarat occurred on January 26, 2001, and the quake off Pondicherry coast which caused tremors in Chennai happened on September 26, 2001. Earlier, on June 26, 1941, an earthquake was experienced along the coast of Tamil Nadu.
