Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday assured "all possible central government support and assistance" to those states affected by the tidal waves triggered by a massive earthquake earlier in the day in Indonesia.

"I have spoken to the chief ministers of the affected states toassure them of all possible central government support and assistance in the relief and rehabilitation efforts," the prime minister told reporters.

He also expressed "deepest sorrow" at the devastation caused bythe earthquake and tidal waves in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Kerala and Pondicherry.

A powerful earthquake rocked parts of Asia Sunday morning and triggered tidal waves and flash floods, causing a tsunami which hit the southern Indian coast, killing at least 1,000 people, mostof them in Tamil Nadu in the southern tip of India.

Singh, who has been monitoring the situation, said Cabinet Secretary B K Chaturvedi met members of the Disaster Management Group and "he and his colleagues are coordinating all the efforts that need to be put in to meet with the tragedy."

Singh said he had instructed the defense and home ministers to take necessary measures to provide adequate relief to those peopleaffected by the disaster.

The Armed Forces and the Central Paramilitary Forces have also been mobilized for rescue and relief operations, Singh said.