After the Tidal wave attack, now widely known as Tsunami wave, initially it was the local people who swung into action and started the search, rescue and relief operations. However, soon after, the district administration plunged into action and launched massive search, rescue and relief operations with the help of local people, Navy, Police, Marine Enforcement Agency, local boats & dredgers in both the backwaters and the sea and by using heavy machinery like JCB, Bulldozers etc. in the disaster affected residential areas. Heavy earth moving machinery was put into action to find out if any trace of life was left in the massive rubble left over by the Tsunami attack. The operations were continued in the night by making emergency lighting arrangements.

Relief camps were opened in various schools of Karunagapally and Kollam Taluks to accommodate the evacuated population from the affected panchayats. A total of 53 relief camps were opened in both the Taluks accommodating about 38000 people. Registers were opened to register the names and other details of persons that reached the relief camps. DYMRF, Pune has come down to Karunagapally and conducted a model relief camp at Ayiramthengu for 113 families for about 3 months.

Similarly, M.A.Math has lent some of their infrastructure like their college buildings, hostel, some sheds constructed for this purpose to run the relief camps. However, the expenditure related to provision of food and medical treatment was totally met by district administration by engaging the staff of revenue department and the doctors of health department. M.A.Math has also provided on lease basis about 5 acres of land, free of cost, in Alappad Panchayat for erecting government shelters.The KMML and IREL have also rendered us necessary help during the relief and rehabilitation operations. The local bodies in the surrounding areas have given appropriate help to the district administration whenever we approached them.