Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal on Thursday said alerts sounded by the Union Home Ministry on possibility of a fresh wave of tsunamis were a preacutionary measure and there was no cause for panic.

Panic gripped the coastal belt of Nagapattinam after meteorological office warned of yet another tsunami striking the district.

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Alerts were sounded in Chennai too and news chennels flashed pictures of people rushing to safer places.

Sibal said the home ministry alert did not call for evacuations. "We are keeping a watch on the situation," he said.

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