The Hindu : National : 5,000 feared dead and missing in Andaman and Nicobar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 28, 2004

National

National

5,000 feared dead and missing in Andaman and Nicobar

By T. Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI, DEC. 27. About 3,000 persons in Nicobar Islands were estimated to have died and 2,000 reported missing.

So far, 300 bodies had been recovered, official sources said. In the Andaman group of islands, four persons died, they added.

The Andaman and Nicobar islands were among the worst hit by the Sumatra earthquake on Sunday morning, which was followed by tsunamis and about 18 "aftershocks." Tremors were reported at Port Blair at 1.30 a.m., 6.25 a.m. and 8.15 p.m. today.

Earlier in the day, V.V. Bhat, the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar administration, told The Hindu over the phone from Port Blair this evening that as the communication system collapsed, there was no authentic information regarding the casualty figure. The administration was awaiting full details of the damage.

The bodies of 65 persons, all defence personnel, had been recovered and handed over to the authorities. The defence personnel were attached to the air strip at Car Nicobar.

Mr. Bhat said the total population of the Nicobar group of islands was about 35,000.

Three-member medical teams and two senior officers had been deputed from Port Blair to Car Nicobar. Relief materials had been sent in two ships carrying 100 quintals of rice and 50 quintals of "dhal," he said, adding that the administration was following up with New Delhi in arranging for more relief measures.

According to the administration's official website, the Port Blair harbour was extensively damaged. Jetties at Aberdeen, Phoenix Bay, Junglighat and Haddo, all at Port Blair, were flooded. While a few boats sank at the jetties, four ships, which were being serviced by the Marine Dockyards, were heavily damaged. By Sunday afternoon, the waves receded and normality returned to Port Blair.

Ships evacuated

The employees of the Port Management Board, Directorate of Shipping Services, and Andaman Harbour Works swung into action immediately and evacuated several ships berthed at the jetties to anchorage to prevent damage.

About 100 people who were injured have been treated in the hospital at Port Blair.

Soon after the incident in the morning, the Lieutenant Governor, Ram Kapse, accompanied by senior officials of the administration and the MP , Manoranjan Bhaktha, went around Port Blair to assess the damage.

The President, A.P. J. Abdul Kalam, spoke to the Lt. Governor in the evening and assured him of every possible help.

A control room had been set up at the Secretariat and it could be contacted at phone: 03192-233110/234087.

The Deputy Commissioner could also be contacted at 231945 or 233089.

Information counters have been set up in the Directorate of Information, Publicity and Tourism, to assist and give appropriate information to the tourists and the public.

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