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Round the clock rescue and relief operations are continuing in the areas hit by yesterday’s Tsunami/Tidal waves. The Ministry of Home Affairs is coordinating the rescue and relief efforts and is in constant touch with the concerned States and Union Territories. The Ministry has advised the Coastal States to be on constant vigil and has requested them to take necessary assistance from the Army, Navy and Coast Guard, if needed and to instruct all the concerned District Collectors of the coastal areas to undertake rescue, relief and evacuation operations. Orissa, Kerala and Gujarat as also Central Police forces have been requested for food and essential items. Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra have also been requested to arrange the relief material. Supplies to Andaman & Nicobar Islands is being arranged by both air and ships.
The Cabinet Secretary who reviewed the situation has instructed all concerned Ministries/Departments to provide necessary logistic support to the affected States and UTs.
The Home Minister left yesterday evening for the affected areas in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The Prime Minister has announced all necessary support to Sri Lanka and Maldives. Steps are being taken to provide assistance required by these countries to meet the situation.
Four Naval ships with relief assistance have sailed for Trincomalli and Colombo in Sri Lanka. One ICG Dornier aircraft was deployed from Thiruvananthapuram for damage assessment in Maldives. Air dropping of food packets in Maldives is being organized from today.
A& N Islands
The worst affected islands are Car Nicobar and Great Nicobar which were totally cut off due to extensive inundation. Communication links and water supply have been disrupted in these areas. Two jetties of Coast Guard and one civil Jetty have been damaged and submerged. The Port Blair run-way developed cracks and only 5000 ft is usable. About 2000 feet of Carnic Air Force runway is submerged.
About 1000 persons are reported missing
Relief items were airlifted this morning from Tambram Air Port, Chennai. In addition, two AN 32 aircraft and one IL 76 with relief material are leaving today for the Islands, one each from Bhuj, Bhubneshwar and Ahmedabad. Two specialized teams in Medical First Responder(MFR) –one each from ITBP and CISF have been flown today to Car Nicobar. Eight satellite phones were also airlifted to the Islands today.
The Ministry of Health has deputed a five member team consisting of physicians and public health experts with emergency medical stores to A& N Islands.
Andhra Pradesh:
Two ships of Indian Coast Guard(ICG) have been deployed –one in Nellore and the other at Visakahapatnam.
Kerala
About 300 people are reported to be stranded in a narrow strip of land between the coastal region of the backwaters off Oachira in Alappuzha district. The Navy sent their diving team by road yesterday and started rescue operations today.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is the worst affected State in the mainland. All the 1000 persons have been evacuated from the Kanyakumari Memorial. The State Government has requested for disposal of dead bodies. Army is assisting the local authorities in this work.The State Government has been advised to deploy Civil Defence Volunteers. 400 personnel from CRPF were also deployed for relief work. The Ministry of Health has deputed doctors alonwith emergency medical stores.
Pondicherry
People living in low lying area have been evacuated to safer places and essential commodities provided. PWD has launched repair of a bridge to restore communication on the southern part of the Karaikal region. Police and fire services have been pressed into service. The Ministry of Health has deputed medical teams. Pondicherry Administration is now engaged in disposal of dead bodies. It has been advised to utilize services of Civil Defence Volunteers.
Note: Casualty figures have been separately released.
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