1,400 tourists stranded in Andamans safe, govt set to evacuate them: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday spoke to Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dr Jagdish Mukhi, who apprised him of the situation in Havelock Island.
Around 1,400 tourists are stranded at Havelock and Neil islands in the Andamans due to cyclonic weather conditions. Four ships of the Indian Navy were pressed into service yesterday to evacuate them.
Rajnath Singh further assured that all the tourists who are stranded at Havelock Island are safe. The government has made all the preparations to evacuate them, added Singh.
Neil and Havelock islands, approximately 40 kms from Port Blair, have been hit the most by the cyclonic weather conditions caused by a severe depression over southeast Bay of Bengal which led to heavy rainfall, strong wind, and rough sea conditions, officials said.
The administration has already declared the cyclonic weather as ‘L1 Disaster’.
The islands are two of the most popular tourist attractions in Andamans and the only means of transportation from them are vessels and choppers which have stopped operation since Monday last due to bad weather.
The Indian Navy has sent four ships — INS Bitra, Bangaram, Kumbhir and LCU 38 — for the evacuation.
Andaman administration officials said the cyclonic weather has uprooted trees, disrupted power supply and caused flooding in some low-lying areas of Port Blair.
Mobile and Internet connectivity have also been snapped in many areas.
There is, however, no reason to panic, the officials said adding the administration is fully geared up to tackle any situation.