|
The Crisis Management Group met this afternoon for making an assessment of the damage and speeding up relief work in the areas hit by this morning’s earthquake. The Group presided over by the Cabinet Secretary, Shri B.K. Chaturvedi took the following decisions:
The Ministry of Defence will immediately arrange for supply of relief materials such as medicines, blankets and food items from Chennai and Tambaram Airports to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The Ministry of Home Affairs will co-ordinate with the Defence Authorities for making available the relief materials. An advisory has been issued asking the ships and the fishermen already in the sea to remain away from the coast for the next 24 hours.
All safety precautions have been taken and the Kalpakkam atomic plant is fully safe.
The Government has extended support to Sri Lanka, which has suffered extensive damage due to the earthquake.In response to Sri Lanka’s request to India to extend all possible help, two Naval Ships have set sail one for Colombo and the other for Trincomalaee. International flights for Maldives have been diverted to Thiruvanathapuram.
It is for the first time that the tidal waves ‘Tsunami’ have hit the Indian coast causing heavy damage. A very strong earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale took place in Sumatra Islands, Indonesia at about 0629 hours today. Its impact has been widely felt in the southern parts of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, especially around Nicobar Islands. This earthquake was followed by another one at 0953 hours, measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale, off Nicobar Island, approximately 60 miles west of Indira point. Its exact location is 6.9 degrees North and 92.95 degrees East.
As a result of the earthquake, the runway at Port Blair airport has suffered some damage. Two flights, one of Jet Airways and the other of the Indian Airlines have taken off from the airport. Port Blair airport, a naval airport, has been inspected by the Navy and the clearance has been given for flights tomorrow. If necessary, additional flights will also be organized to evacuate the tourists. The seaport at Port Blair has also suffered damage, upsetting the operations from the sea. One Naval ship has been sent to Car Nicobar islands along with the supplies for rescue and relief operations. Two helicopters and an air force plane have also taken off for rescue and relief operations.
About 21,000 people in the south of Car Nicobar Island and about 24,000 people in the Great Nicobar Island have been affected. The other affected areas are Kamota, Campbell Bay and Havelock Islands.
|
