Attributing the loss of lives in Sunday's quake-induced tidal waves to inexperience of handling such situations, the Indian government said Monday lives could have been saved if coastal areas were warned after the quake.

There was one and a half hours between the quake in Sumatra and the tidal waves hitting Indian coast. One and a half hours is sufficient time, the Press Trust of India quoted Minister of State for Home Affairs Shriprakash Jaiswal as saying here at the inauguration of a national conference on scientific awareness.

If during this time coastal areas were informed of the possibility of tidal waves in the sea, many lives could have been saved, he said.

However, such a tragedy has happened for the first time in India and even the world has experienced this kind of tragedy only three-four times, he said.

Thus, there was no awareness and no preparation for such a situation, which caused loss of life, he said.

The minister said the government is handling the situation and will take all possible measures in this regard.

Meanwhile, the death toll from tsunamis that ravaged India's southern and southeastern coastline and its islands rose to 6,800 Monday.