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REGIONAL NEWS & SPECIAL REPORTS -
REGIONAL NEWS & SPECIAL REPORTS
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 21 December 2010 06:12 |
AsiaViews, Edition: 01/II/January/2005
NEW DELHI, JAN. 4. Ten days after the tsunami disaster struck the coastal States in the south and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Centre has completed the first stage of relief and rescue operations. The focus now shifts to restoration of infrastructure along the battered coastline, and particularly in the southern islands of the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
At a joint press briefing here today, the Chief of the Integrated Defence Services (IDS), Vice- Admiral Raman Puri, said the first stage was over but the search for missing persons would continue for a week. Three companies of troops were looking out for survivors in the Chowra, Tarassa and Trinkat islands.
The airfield has been repaired in Car Nicobar where 20 resettlement camps have been set up at Malacca, Parkha, Kakana and Kimose. Power has been restored at the office complex, water point, the Air Force station and the settlement colonies. Since jetties are usable by small boats, naval ships are continuing supplies through them in Little Andaman.
Five ships ? Rajput, Gharial, Cheetah, Bhikaji Cama, Kanaklata Baruah ? are operating to Great Nicobar. The road from Campbell Bay to the southernmost point, Indira Point, is not motorable and relief supplies from Port Blair and Carnic by air and by naval ships are continuing.
Navin Chawla, Information and Broadcasting Secretary, who is a member of the Group of Secretaries taking stock of the relief measures, said the official toll in the tsunami disaster rose to 9,571 and the number of missing persons went up to 5,801. He said the Integrated Relief Command had become fully operational and was streamlining the supply of drinking water and food packets. As many as 14 officers, familiar with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, had been posted there by the Home Ministry to strengthen the local administration.
Thirty-two medical officers and 20 nurses are assisting the administration and emergency medicines and disinfectants are being delivered. The Navy has converted its INS Magar into a 120-bed hospital.
Steps to prevent the outbreak of epidemic are being taken in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, according to the Home Ministry's status report.
The Carnic airbase will become operational soon for all types of exercises and operations, said the Vice-Chief of the Air Staff, S.K. Malik, who returned after a two-day visit to the region.
A team of 130 IAF personnel has replaced the old team at the Carnic airbase. The resettlement operation is being carried out alongside full-scale flying activity by transport aircraft and helicopters. Six additional helicopters reached the archipelago via Myanmar today.
The Indian Airlines and its subsidiary, Alliance Air, operated four flights to Port Blair today. Between January 1 and 3, it evacuated 796 persons from Port Blair and carried over 72 tonnes of relief material and 867 paramilitary personnel. It has also evacuated over 4,000 passengers from the island.
The Hindu January 5, 2005
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 December 2010 06:12 )
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