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Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Minister for Defence and Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of UPA visited Car Nicobar on 27.12.2004 afternoon to have a first hand assessment of the devastation caused by the tidal waves in Car Nicobar. They were accompanied by Lt. Governor Prof. Ram Kapse, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, Smt. Ambika Soni, Shri Manoranjan Bhakta, Member of Parliament, Shri VV Bhat, Chief Secretary and Lt. Genl. BS Thakur of A&N Command.

In addition to speaking to the deceased families of Defence personnel who were being evacuated to the mainland and Port Blair in IAF Aircraft, they visited the villages of Kimus and Malacca and spoke to the effected people.

Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Minister for Defence advised the Defence force to extend all necessary help for reconnaissance of the islands of Chowra, Teressa, Kamorta, etc. to arrange for supply of provision articles to the effected families and Government employees. They returned to mainland from Port Blair at about 1800 hrs.

Tremors occurred again on 27^th December at 1.30 AM, 6.25 AM and 8.15 PM. After the tremor at 8.15 PM, a tidal swell was noticed in Chatham as well as in Phoenix Bay Jetty. However, no damage has been reported.

A declining trend of severity of the quake is noticed in keeping with the normal pattern of earth quakes. On the second day of the quake, the Control Room in the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Andaman District was fully operational. Relief Commissioner Shri PK Goel coordinated the activities of the Control Room throughout the day. Different senior Officers were assigned with different tasks.

The Lt. Governor and the Chief Secretary visited Car Nicobar to arrange for the restoration of telephone exchange and to see the damage from air. Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of UPA and Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Minister for Defence were given a brief about the damage caused to the Airbase at Malacca by the Commanding Officer, IAF, Car Nicobar. Aircraft of Indian Air Force evacuated the families and survivors of the Defence complex, employees of the Contractors of IAF were also evacuated. Further evacuation of families of civilian Government employees is planned for 28^th December.

The villages of Malacca, Lapathy and Kimus are said to be severely affected. The entire Malacca area has been washed out of its buildings and people. 65 dead bodies were identified so far but the actual number of death is feared to be very large. Since people have shelter away from their villages at an elevation and at isolated places, the actual number of people affected, died, etc. have not yet been assessed.

The Lt. Governor has camped in Car Nicobar to hold discussion with Deputy Commissioner, Superintending Engineer, Executive Engineer, Director (Tribal Welfare), etc. in order to alleviate the situation. Shri Janak Digal, Secretary has been nominated as Coordinator for relief work in Car Nicobar.

Aircraft operated normally between Port Blair and the mainland. Two additional aircrafts operated thereby lifting about 300 tourists. 650 tourists are awaiting special flights from Port Blair. It is expected that extra flights will operate on 28^th December (Wednesday). Smt. Sonia Gandhi spoke to Shri Praful Patel, Minister of Civil Aviation in this regard from Port Blair before her return to the mainland.

Today Administration arranged two voyages from Port Blair to Havelock to evacuate 650 tourists who were stranded at Havelock. Administration’s ship has also evacuated 136 persons who are stranded at Pilpillow and Kakana Islands by mobilizing two boats viz. ML Ramakrishna and MV Long Island.

MV Nancowry left Port Blair at 1600 hrs today with 1200 plus passengers for Chennai from Chatham Wharf. MV Akbar is scheduled for sailing to Vizag on 29^th December and will leave from Chatham Wharf. MV Nicobar which is at present berthed at Kolkata will sail for Port Blair on 28.12.2004. Special boats were arranged to Baratang, Rangat and Hut Bay for bringing tourists who are stranded at these Islands. IAF is airlifting ration to Car Nicobar from Tambaram (Chennai) Airbase at 0430 hrs. on 28^th December.

The Electrical Engineering Faculty and Electronic & Communication Engineering Faculty of the Government Polytechnic were deployed to assist the Electricity Department and BSNL respectively.

Development Communication Network of ISRO proved itself useful for the officers at Campbell Bay and Kamorta to report to the position from there. Seven places in the islands are connected with Satellite Dish Antenna as a multipurpose connectivity which is expected to be of greater services during Disaster Management since they work independently of the Terrestrial telephone exchange. The improvement in the telecommunication helped the Administration substantially to communicate in Port Blair and in Andaman District, nevertheless Car Nicobar remain cut off except for the single inmarsat telephone set at Car Nicobar and the Police Wireless Network. The Satellite Earth Station at Malaca has been damaged. Expert help has been sought from ISRO for rectification of the Satellite Earth Station and Telephone Exchanges.

Shri Dhirendra Singh, Home Secretary, Dr. KP Singh, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri DT Joseph, Secretary (Shipping) and Shri Jaswant Singh, Leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha spoke to the Control Room and apprise themselves about the developments and assured the support of the Government of India. Special attention was paid by the Electricity Department to restore power supply to cable services agency in order to enable the people to get information from DD and other channels.

The District Disaster Management Authority at Port Blair is meeting daily for reviewing of the action taken during the day as well as for preparation of relief operation for the next day.

Shri TR Baalu, Minister of Shipping is expected to visit Port Blair on Wednesday the 28^th December along with Shri DT Joseph, Secretary (Shipping). The Minister is likely to visit the harbours at Port Blair and assess the effect of the earth quake and the tidal waves on the shipping infrastructure.


Sewage floats at Phoenix Bay Jetty	Effect of the earth quake on the transit shed, Haddo Wharf

Aberdeen Jetty covered under the tidal wave on 26th December, 2004.	Reception office and air traffic control tower damaged at Car Nicobar

Damaged road due to earthquake	Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister reviewing the situation at Car Nicobar along with the Lt. Governor, Chief of Air Staff and Commander in Chief, A & N Command.

Damaged Jetty at Phoenix Bay

The following Govt. departments and Govt. servants generously contributed donations towards the LG’s Relief Fund for the Earthquake victims.

It is an appeal to the general public, voluntary organisations, organisations from commerce and trade and non-government sector to donate funds to the Lt. Governor’s Relief Fund. The donations can be made only to the LG’s Relief Fund either by cheque or by Demand Draft. No other private organisation is authorised to receive donations for providing relief to the Earthquake victims.

The Adhyaksh, Zilla Parishad along with the Superintending Engineer and staff of Engineering Wing visited Burmanallah, Chidiyatapu, Bada Balu, Wandoor, Chouldari, Mithakhari, Wimberlygunj and Bambooflat villages in South Andaman for spot study of the situation arising due to the tsunami.

Adhyaksh and team also visited the temporary relief camps in South Andaman and sanctioned food items such as rice, dal and milk powder for babies and also arranged water supply through tankers. Adhyaksh also asked the Engineering staff to provide tents at Lambapahar.

At the end of the inspection, Adhyaksh and team visited Bambooflat, where they found that extensive damages to properties were done by tsunami waves measuring about 3 metres in height. Adhyaksh has requested the Administration to immediately send a high level team of officials to assess the damages and provide immediate relief to them.

Adhyaksh, Zilla Parishad has appealed to all Pradhans, Samity Members and Zilla Parishad and Panchayati Raj Members to take up the relief works such as drinking water supply through water tanker, clearance of garbage and blocked drainage, etc by engaging local labourers for the required period. Further the PRI Members were requested to donate generously and raise fund for LG’s Relief Fund in order to provide relief to the affected persons.

The Adhkaksh has also sanctioned donation of Rs.20 lakh from the Zilla Parishad to LG’s Relief Fund and also requested all Officers under the Panchayati Raj Institutions to donate minimum one day’s salary to LG’s Relief Fund.

Adhyaksh has expressed his deep sorrow and concern over the heavy loss of life and properties due to this natural calamity.

1.	MP, LAD (DRDA, Andamans)	Rs.20 lakh
2.	ANIIDCO	Rs.10 lakh
3.	A&N Police	Rs.3 lakh
4.	A&N Khadi and Village Industries Board	Rs.1 lakh
5.	Shri Lokesh Kumar, GSSS, Model, Port Blair	Rs.5,001/-
	Total	Rs.34,05,001