A journalist visiting Tamil Nadu's Velankani church survived Sunday's tsunami by floating on a logbut giant waves washed away his wife, daughter and five relatives,according to Indo-Asian News Service (IANS).

The pilgrim town of Velankani was among the worst hit. Local officials said as many as 2,000 people, mostly pilgrims to the church and mosques there, were reported missing. Up to 300 bodies had been found.

A. Aruldasan, a reporter with the Tamil newspaper "Dinamani" and based in Tuticorin town, was visiting the church Sunday morning when the tragedy struck.