The country has been hit by Tsunami tidal waves caused by an earthquake on 26th Dec 2004. Thousands of people in the coastal states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry have lost their lives and property worth crores of rupees has been damaged.

The Prime Minister has issued an appeal to all Central Government employees and those working in Central Public Undertakings/ autonomous bodies to donate a day's salary to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to help fund the relief and rehabilitation measures.