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The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Sunil Dutt, is scheduled to arrive here on January 2, 2005, on a two-day visit to the islands. During his stay here, the Union Minister will be visiting Rehabilitation camps and shelters in and around Port Blair. On completion of visit, Shri Dutt will leave from here for Chennai on January 4, 2005.

The Integrated Relief Command (IRC) for Andaman and Nicobar Islands for effective coordination and operationalisation of relief and rehabilitation measures has become operational with immediate effect. The Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A & N Islands, Prof. Ram Kapse informed the media about this at Raj Niwas. The Hon’ble Lt. Governor is the Chairman, the Commander-in-chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command is the Vice-Chairman and Operational Head, Chief Secretary A&N Administration is the Member Secretary and nominated officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India stationed at Port Blair will be a member of IRC.

The task of the IRC will be to mount an Integrated relief and rehabilitation effort in the A&N Islands with special attention to the Southern (Nicobar) group of islands and the aboriginal tribes.

Briefing the media persons the Commander-in-chief Andaman & Nicobar Command and the Vice-Chairman and Operational Head of IRC, Lt. Gen. B.S. Thakur informed the media that the situation in the quake and tidal waves affected areas is improving day by day. Relief Officers have been positioned in all the affected islands and contacts with the affected persons on the ground have been possible. He further said that the first priority is to ensure that food, water and medicines reach the affected people and to prevent outbreak of an epidemic. He informed that three wells in Car Nicobar have been restored to supply water to the people. Food supplies are being airdropped in the affected areas.

Lt. Gen. Thakur also informed that aerial recce was undertaken in the Great Nicobar Island by helicopter and naval divers were deployed to rescue the survivors near the light house at Indira Point.

He said sniffer dogs have been brought to trace out bodies buried beneath the rubble. He said dead bodies near the roads and tracks have already been disposed off.

Referring to logistics, Lt. Gen. Thakur said that except Car Nicobar and Campbell Bay where there are airstrips, all other islands are either approachable by helicopter or vessels which makes the task of relief and rescue more challenging.

Relief operation intensifies, Command ships and aircrafts leads Operation Madad

On the 6^th day after the earthquake struck these islands the rescue and relief operation undertaken by the coordinated effort of the unified command included the air drop of food by Naval & Coast Guard helicopters provision of supplies and evacuation of people by ships and aircrafts. The Army on ground was involved in various activities to develop the confidence of the affected islanders providing food packets, sintex tanks, plastic chairs, folding cots, gypsy and motor cycle with rider, medicines, chemicals & dry rations and csd items sent to Campbell Bay & 2000 ltrs of water sent to Car Nicobar. 01 officer and 08 other ranks moved to Car Nicobar alongwith communication equipment.

Naval helicopter landed epidemiologist; gynaecologist; paediatrician; cardiologist; all from Kolkata and staff of Primary Health Center Katchal at the Katchal Island. INS Rajput transferred the St John’s Ambulance team to Kamorta Island. Helipad was observed to be undamaged at katchal islands.

IAF, 745 sqn, Coast Guard and 318 sqn of INS Utkrosh, in all flew 20 sorties today. Naval personnel from INS Kardip embarked merchant vessels for coordination and guidance. INS Kardip is acting as centre for coordinating relief operations in Nancowry group of islands. The Naval ship Cheetah loaded with 100 tons of supplies including edible oil, 100 drums of diesel and 25 drums of petrol sailed for Campbell Bay at 1800 hrs. IN LCU-38 has evacuated 154 persons from Hut Bay to Port Blair today. INS Magar and Tillanchang are operating off Katchal. The helicopter on board Magar dropped 3000 ltrs of water for Chowra, Teressa and Katchal. INS Magar commenced evacuation off Chowra Island. 1286 survivors at Chowra is being shifted to Teressa.

INS Tillanchang disembarked 70 bags of provisions and evacuated 51 survivors from Teressa Island. INS Rajput, CGS Bikajicama, Lakshmibai & Vivek are operating off Campbell Bay. Recce of Indira Point revealed no habitation. Light House at Indira Point is surrounded by water up to 50 metres. Hutments at the Indira Point have been washed away. CGS Vivek evacuated 08 survivors from Gandhi Nagar, distributed food for 500 personnel along with provisions. GCS Laxmibai evacuated 37 personnel from Gandhi Nagar. CGS Bhikhaiji Cama evacuated 11 personnel. CGS Akkadevi evacuated 375 people from Hut Bay jetty to MV Dering. LCU 39 evacuated 153 personnel from Hut Bay. On preliminary investigation breakwater jetty was found satisfactory for going alongside at Hut Bay. Fresh water was found to be available in certain areas. The aircrafts of Unified Command has flown a total of 167 sorties so far for relief operation.

According to latest figures the number of dead so far stands at 812. The number of persons evacuated to Port Blair is 7558 and those missing are reported to be 5421. The number of persons in camps has gone upto 13070 in 16 camps.

A meeting of NGOs willing to take part in relief work in the tsunami affected areas will be held at Raj Niwas at 4.00 PM on 2^nd January, 2005.

Shri Rahul Bhagat, Assistant Commissioner, District Office, Port Blair and Shri Gopinathan, Assistant Secretary, Rural Development have been nominated as coordinating officers.

The meeting has been convened to facilitate better coordination in mounting relief works.




A few Sentinelese and their huts in North Sentinel Island are seen during the inspection carried out to ascertain the safety of the Sentinelese.	Survey of North Sentinel Island on 30.12.2004 revealed emergence of a large beach on the Western side of the Sentinel Island.