Chennai, Dec 26 (IANS): Tamil Nadu Thursday paid homage to the thousands of people who were swallowed up by the killer tsunami wave of Dec 26, 2004.

The giant wave left a trail of destruction along the coastal areas in the state, wiping out lives, lifetime savings and properties, and leaving several hundred children orphans.

"At Nagapattinam, the worst affected district, a procession was held as a mark of respect and remembrance for the departed souls. Relatives of the dead paid homage at the places where their loved ones were buried," V. Kumaravelu, who was part of the procession, told IANS over phone.

Nagapattinam is around 300 km from the state capital. About 6,100 people from the district lost their lives in the 2004 tsunami.

In the state capital and in Tirunelveli district too, memorial services were held.

In Idinthakarai village in Tirunelveli district, around 650 km from here, a prayer meeting was held in the morning. People later walked in procession to the beach and paid homage to the dead, pouring milk into the sea in memory of the tsunami victims, said M. Pushparayan, an anti-nuclear activist who lives in the district.

Over 8,000 people were killed in Tamil Nadu by the tsunami.