Govt machinery geared up to tackle any situation: Jayalalithaa

Ruling out possibilities of a tsunami on the Tamil Nadu coast, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today said her government was however prepared to handle any situation as she assured people that there was no need to panic.

"It is common that small tremors are felt after a big earthquake of 8.7 (on the Richter Scale). Such small tremors were felt in some parts of Tamil Nadu. While there is no possibility of a tsunami, the government machinery is geared up to tackle any situation with preventive measures," she said in a statement.

Therefore, people need not panic over tsunami fears, she said.

Earlier, she had directed the officials to implement preventive steps though there was not a possibility of a tsunami and the government swung into action. Collectors of coastal districts were alerted and asked to prevent people from venturing to the beach.

"Officials were asked to be prepared and on standby to face any emergency situation and were asked to implement the Contingency Plan meant for such times. In Chennai also, people were cautioned against venturing in the shore,"  she said.

The Centre had initially issued a tsunami warning to Tamil nadu besides some other states following the earthquake at Sumatra but had later withdrawn it.