Out of the 96,000 tsunami victims accommodated in various relief camps, 66,000 have left the centres after getting their cash awards, a top state government official has said.

The Tamil Nadu government had ordered payment of a relief of Rs 2,000 per family whose houses were inundated by sea water during the recent tsunami attack, state home secretary Shanta Sheela Nair told reporters in Nagapattinam on Thursday.

The enumeration in this regard was going on, she said adding the government had sent 30,000 blank ration cards to be issued to those who had lost their cards.

The Reserve Bank of India [Get Quote] had opened a cell to help the victims encash the solarium cheques and exchange the currency notes which had been soiled by the sea water.

So far 50,000 litres of milk had been supplied to the victims, of which the state milk marketing federation had distributed over 31,000 litres of milk, three tons of milk powder, she said.

Out of 66 habitations, drinking water supply was restored to 35 habitations. Work was on to restore supply in the remaining areas, she said.

Free repairs of the outboard motors of the boats by the Greaves India Ltd were being made in four villages in Sri Lanka [Images] and the replacement of spares was supplied to the fishermen at 10 per cent discount rates, she said.

The social welfare officer from Chennai and the NGOs such as school of social welfare officer were involved in counselling the victims affected by the disaster.

In the orphanage opened in Sikkal village, 40 children were admitted so far, she said.

Enumeration of damage to mechanised fishing boats was going on and for carrying out the repairs.

As regards the loss for paddy crops and the area affected by saline water was 40,215 hectares, cashew cultivation in 1032 hectares, pulses in 50 hectares, horticulture in 85 hectares in 18 villages in the district, she said.

Total loss assessed to paddy crops was at Rs 5.83 cr and 8,036 farmers were affected.

About 10,841 heads of cattle were killed while 29,678 were being treated for aliments.