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The
Tsunamis have caused extensive damage in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the
States of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and UT of Pondicherry. 123
aftershocks have been reported so far (112 between >5.0-6.0< and 11 are > 6.0 on Richter scale). The death
toll is at 10,151. The total number of
missing persons is at 5628 of which 5542 are from A&N Islands , who are
feared to be dead.
The
Tsunamis affected a total of 2260 Kms. of the coast line besides the entire
Nicboar Islands . The tidal waves on
the mainland were of the height of 3 to 10 meters. These penetrated into the mainland from 300 meters to 3 Kms. The
Tsunami phenomenon was experienced for the first time in the country. This was
caused because of earthquake on 26.12.2004 at 0629 hrs. which was of high
magnitude and intensity of >8 (8.6)MW scale off West Coast of Sumatra
Islands (Indonesia). Subsequently,
there was an earthquake off coast of Great Nicobar Islands with magnitude of
> 6.5 (MW) at 0952 hrs. IST on 26.12.2004.
The
Cabinet reviewed the situation on 27.12.2004 and emphasized the need of
providing all the required help to the people in the affected areas. The Group
of Ministers has been set under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister to
review the relief and rehabilitation efforts on continued basis.
The
National Crises Management Committee under the Chairmanship of Cabinet
Secretary is reviewing the relief and rehabilitation measures with the
Secretaries of the concerned Ministries/Departments and Chiefs of the Armed
Forces.
The Prime
Minister visited A&N Islands on 8th January 2005. An amount of
Rs. 200 crore will be released to A&N Administration for implementing
immediate rehabilitation measures. Of the above amount, Rs. 60 crore is
estimated to cost on provision of food for affected families, Rs. 25 crore for
about 10,000 temporary houses, Rs. 10 crore for wage employment programme and
Rs. 10 crore to tribal council for restoration of communication hall and social
infrastructure. School examinations for class X and XII will be held a few
months later for those children who opt for this.
An All
Party meeting was convened on 9th January 2005 to discuss the
relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the Tsunami affected areas
and assistance provided to the neighbouring countries in the region affected by
the Tsunami. The Government informed
that a Bill will be introduced in the Parliament during the coming Budget
Session for establishing the National Disaster Management Authority and the
Central Legislation on Disaster Management in the country. The Ministry of Science and Technology will
also initiate action for setting up the Tsunami Warning Centre. The team of experts will also be deputed to
carry out the Geo-oceanography Study of Islands in the Nicobar Group of
Islands. The Government also assured of a comprehensive relief package for the
Tsunami affected families to enable them to re-start a secured normal life.
An
Ex-gratia of Rs.1.00 lakh has been announced to the next of the kin of the
deceased from the PM National Relief Fund, in addition to the assistance
available from the National Contingency Relief Fund. The National Calamity
Contingency Fund (NCCF) has
been
augmented
by Rs. 500.00 crore. The Cabinet has also decided to donate one-month salary to
the PM National Relief Fund. The Prime Minister has appealed to the people
donate generously to the PM National Relief Fund and also requested the
Government employees to contribute at least a day’s salary besides the speedy
consideration of the proposal for established National Disaster Management
Agency
An
Integrated Relief Command (IRC) for the Andaman & Nicobar Groups of Islands
was set up and has become operational.
The UPA
Chairperson, Prime Minister, Home Minister, Defence Minister, other Union
Ministers, leaders of political parties and Members of Parliament have visited
the affected areas.
Ministry
of Home Affairs
The
Ministry of Home Affairs being the nodal Ministry has been coordinating the
relief, response and rehabilitation measures with the affected States/ UTs, the
Central Ministries/Departments providing emergency support including the
Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces and the other States and NGOs. The MHA
Control Room has been functioning round the clock and coordinating the relief
and response responsibilities. The Ministry is coordinating the mobilization of
resources and their dispatches and other logistics.
Rs. 250
crore to Tamil Nadu, Rs. 100 crore each to AP and Kerala have been provided
from NCCF. Separately Rs. 35 crore to Pondicherry and Rs. 100 crore (now increased to Rs. 200 crore) to A&N
Islands has been given.
Three
Inter-Ministerial Teams each headed by a Joint Secretary of MHA and under the
overall supervision of the Secretary (BM), Ministry of Home Affairs inter
alia including members of
Ministries/Departments of Animal Husbandy (Fisheries), Agriculture, Rural
Development, Tele-communication, Power, Shipping, Drinking Water Supply,
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways visited the States of Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh and Kerala and Pondicherry from 4-6th January ,2005
to have an on the spot assessment of the situation and requirements of Central
assistance for relief and rehabilitation. These States/UTs have projected the
damage/ reconstruction cost at Rs 7000 crore (US Dollar 1.56 billion). The
detailed damage assessment for A&N Islands is being made where the Nicobar
Group of Islands will require more or less re-building.
A total of
3371.70 MT relief materials (882.34 MT by Air and 2489.36 MT by ship) has been
delivered to A&N Islands comprising of 826.33 MT food items, 749.64 MT drinking
water, 114.55 MT medicines/disinfectant, 11,037 tents, 38,763 torches, 715 Gen.
Sets, 82 Pump sets and 3 Desalination Plants. The movement status of relief
material for all affected States/ UTs is in Annexure-III.
2107
personnel of Central Para Military Forces drawn from CRPF, CISF, ITBP, BSF and
RAF (these comprise of specialists teams from CISF and ITBP who are also
Medical First Responders) were deployed for search and rescue operation, road
clearance, disposal of dead bodies, sanitation activities like spraying
bleaching powder, DDT, Phenyl in relief camps, distribution of relief
materials, unloading and guarding of relief materials etc. The deployment is now 1674 (CRPF-605, CISF-243, ITBP-203,
BSF-377, RAF-246). The CPMF have
provided medical first response to 973 persons, evacuated 3703 persons and 300
dead bodies were cremated/ buried.
2. Ministry of Defence:
The Armed
Forces have launched operation “Sea Waves” for relief, rescue and evacuation in
the wake of Tsunami disaster which has been coordinated by Integrated Defence
Staff (IDS). The aircrafts have undertaken 444 sorties for A&N Islands, 41
sorties for main land States. 9,284 people were evacuated including 7,419
civilians and 1,865 service personnel in A&N Islands. 19,450 personnel were
evacuated in Tsunami hit main land states. Under operation “Rainbow” for Sri
Lanka, 230 sorties have been undertaken and 181 personnel evacuated. Under
Operation “Castor” for Maldives 50 sorties were under and 15 peoples were
evacuated from outlying Islands. 24 ships, 16 helicopters and 5 fixed wing
aircrafts of the Indian Navy are engaged in relief operations, deploying 4,500
naval personnel. Approximately 680
tones of relief supply (like tents, generator sets, desalination plants,
blankets etc.) including 300 tones of
provisions and 11 tones of medicines have been delivered by the Naval Ships and
Aircrafts to the affected areas. Under operation “Gambhir” for Indonesia, the
Navy has provided relief materials besides running a medical camp. The Navy in
its efforts has also been supported by the ships, Dornier Aircrafts and
personnel of the Indian Coast Guard.
3. Ministry of Health:
Ministry
of Health is constantly monitoring the situation and there are no reports of
any epidemic so far. A Control Room is
working round the clock in the Ministry to provide necessary support to the
Tsunami affected States/UTs. At present 10 Public Health Specialists,
Clinicians, General duty Medical Officers including Psychiatrics are attending
to healthcare in Pondicherry, 28 in
Tamil Nadu, 2 in Addhra Pradesh and 58
in A &N Islands. They are being
assisted by 104 supporting staff including Staff Nurses, Sanitary Inspectors,
Laboratory Technicians, Paramedics and Dialysis Technicians. Of these 89 are
deployed in A&N Islands. In the
A&N Islands 148 health facilities are functional and a total of 14,368
patients have been treated. Total patients treated in all the five States/UTs
is 22,938. All children between 6 months to 5 years of age are being vaccinated
for measles and being given recommended doses of Vitamin-A supplement. Health
Ministry is also arranging 17 fogging machines with operators to address the
problems of Mosquitoes. Medicines
valued at Rs. 1 crore have been supplied
to the A&N Islands.
4. Ministry of Shipping:
The
Shipping Corporation of India has made 27 berthing position (Harbour/Jetties)
functional out of 49. Three Jetties; one each at Car Nicobar, Nancowry
(Kamorta) and Nancowry (Champin) are fit for operations. 11 commercial ships
have been sent from main land ex- Chennai, Kolkata, Haldia and Vizag carrying
relief supplies. Out of 65 inter island
vessels of A&N Administration, 40 vessels are operational, 18 vessels are
not operational due to annual repairs and 7 vessels were damaged in
Tsunami. 18 vessels are plying between
Port Blair and Mayabunder, Havelock, Baratang, Diglipur, Neil Island, Rangat,
Hut Bay, Long Island and Campbell Bay.
6 private vessels are in operation between Port Blair and Rangat,
Havelock, Diglipur, Mayabunder and Neil Islands. Out of 30 number of light houses in A&N Islands only 2 are
functioning in South Andaman and East Islands.
It is estimated that an amount of Rs. 304 crores will be required to
restore the damages to the shipping sector in the Islands.
Special
teams have been deputed along with necessary materials required for repairs of
damage structures at Hut Bay Wharf, Campbell Bay and Mus. 2 boats each at
Kamotra, Nancowry and Champin have been provided for inter-Island movement
within Nancowry Group of Islands. Work for restoration of dry-dock No.2 has
already been started at Port Blair
The
Ministry have issued instructions for transporting the relief material to the
Tsunami affected areas free of cost, if the consignees are the Relief Commissioner/District
Magistrate of the affected States/UTs and the relief material is in the form of
donation and is at no cost to them. On
this term, the facility of free transport can also be availed by the NGOs,
Trusts and other Organisations including Corporate Sector to provide the relief
material including material for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
5. Ministry of Telecommunication:
Ministry
of Telecommunication have undertaken measures to restore the communication
facilities in A&N Islands. The telephone exchanges in North Middle and
South Group of Islands are now functional. In Little Andaman Island the
exchanges are functioning partially and Hut Bay is still to be restored. In
Great Nicobar Islands, lines exchange are working in Campbell Bay. In Car
Nicobar Islands, the exchange lines are working in Car Nicobar and Kamorta
partially. IDR (2 Mb) Satellite
Equipment has been commissioned at Car Nicobar. Free STD telephone booths have
been provided at 11 relief camps at Port Blair. INMARSAT has been commissioned
at Teressa. However, all the 8 Islands where the relief camps are being run are
now linked with point-to-point communication through Satellite phones, HAM
Radio and Police Wireless. The armed forces have also set up the communication
links.
6. Ministry of Power:
21 DG sets
– of 7.5 KVA, 6 of 10 KVA and 10 of 15 KVA have been installed; Teressa (5),
Katchall (9), Car Nicobar (4), Choawra (3).
One 15 KVA and another 5 KVA DG sets were made operational at Hut Bay.
300 small DG sets were installed in Car Nicobar (119),Kamorta (55), Campbell Bay (35), Katchal
(20), Teressa (10) and Hut Bay (61).
20 Nos. 21.5 KVA trolley mounted DG sets have been put up at
Car Nicobar (10), and 10 Kamorta and Campbell Bay.
Power supply restored in Rut Land
on 6.1.05 evening. Electricity supply given to 40 Relief Camps, Street light,
Medical centres, Communication centres, water supply system in car Nicobar
Island on 7.1.05. Electricity supply given to Relief camps, lJetty/Harbar at
Nancowry on 7.1.05
The
Generating unit at Kalapakkam Atomic Power Station of NHPC has been made operational on full load last evening –
This has improved power supply in North Andaman.
7. Department of Drinking Water Supply:
A joint
team of Department of Drinking Water Supply and Ministry of Water Resources is
making assessment of damages and chalking out restoration plan for A&N
Islands. 90% water supply has been restored in Port Blair, South Andaman Rural,
Rangat and 80% in Mayabandar and Wimberlegunj, 60% each at Kadamtal and
Degreepur and 50% at Campbell Bay. Restoration work is progress in other
Islands except Katchal where assessment is awaited.
8. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas:
Ministry
of Petroleum and Natural Gas is meeting the full demand of POL. The status of
POL supplies in Andaman & Nicobar Islands as on 10.1.2005 is as under:
|
Product
|
Stock
(KL)
|
Cover
(No. of days)
|
|
MS
(Petrol)
|
738
|
25
|
|
SKO
(Kerosene)
|
920
|
37
|
|
HSD
(Diesel)
|
9566
|
27
|
|
ATF
Andaman
Car
Nicobar
|
1640
282
|
12
18
|
|
LPG (MT)
|
112
|
06
|
LPG
stocks are being replenished on
priority. LPG tanker is expected to reach Port Blair on 11.1.2005. This
would provide 75 days’ cover. Full demand of products is being met. A team of
officers of IOC is camping in Port Blair to monitor the stocks and supplies.
Fresh stocks of MS, HSD, SKO and ATF would be dispatched from Haldia through MT
Harsha and are expected to reach Port Blair on 13.1.2005. POL products are
being regularly transported to other Islands also in barrels as per the
requirement conveyed by the administration, and there is no report of
non-availability of products.
9. Ministry of Civil Aviation:
The
Airport at Port Blair is now fully operational. The Ministry of Civil Aviation
(Indian Air Lines and Jet Airways) have undertaken 117 flights including 19
flights for Cargo. They have brought out 7910 passengers and 246 infants ex-
Port Blair. They have airlifted a cargo load of 362.5 MT to Port Blair.
The
Ministry have issued instructions for transporting the relief material to the Tsunami affected areas free of cost,
if the consignees are the Relief Commissioner/District Magistrate of the affected States/UTs and the relief
material is in the form of donation and is at no cost to them. On this term, the facility of free transport
can also be availed by the NGOs, Trusts and other Organisations including
Corporate Sector to provide the relief material including material for
rehabilitation and reconstruction.
10. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:
As per the
field reports received by the Ministry Road Transport and Highways, 162 Km. of
National Highways and 462 Km. of State/district Highways, 7 bridges and 34
culverts have been damaged due to Tsunami in all mainland States/UTs. 14 permanent Bailey bridges have been mobilized
for A&N Islands besides Cement and GI/Steel pipes for resonation of road
links. The ship carrying the Bailey bridges has reached Port Blair and being
offloaded.
11. Ministry of Railways:
The
Ministry have issued instructions for transporting the relief material to the
Tsunami affected areas free of
cost, if the consignees are the Relief
Commissioner/District Magistrate of the
affected States/UTs and the relief material is in the form of donation and is
at no cost to them. On this term, the
facility of free transport can also be availed by the NGOs, Trusts and other
Organisations including Corporate Sector to provide the relief material
including material for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
12. Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs:
The
Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs have established 390 work camps for relief
and response in the affected States/UTs. 450 Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan
volunteers are engaged in 20 relief centers in A&N Islands. The Ministry
have allocated Rs. 3.41 crore for relief and rescue by the volunteers.
13. Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment
Action
have initiated set up a Child Help Line at Port Blair by Childline India
Foundation Mumbai and its partner organization PRAYAS Delhi for providing shelter,
food, medicines and counseling to children in distress. One short stay home for
women is functioning in South Andaman and the office of Secretary of A&N
Social Welfare Board is being used as a home for women and children. Two
officials including medical specialists have been providing assistance in
A&N Islands. A team of officers has been sent to Pondicherry and Kerala to
coordinate with UT Administration and NGOs for long term rehabilitation of
affected women and children. Two short stay home set up by the Department of
Women and Child Development have been authorized for Tsunami victims. Childline
India Foundation is also setting a Child Help Line in Pondicherry. A team of
officers is also visiting Tamil Nadu for coordinating with State Governments and
NGOs for long terms rehabilitation of affected women and children. 41 short
stay homes for women set up in Tamil Nadu have been authorized to take Tsunami
victims.
Central
Adoption Resource Authority recognized placement agencies in all the affected States/UTs
for adoption are being advised to take in orphan children for providing care
and protection to the children and after ascertaining that they free for
adoption, making efforts for their adoption with the State/Country. The
expenditure on their maintenance will be make by Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment. The District Disability Rehabilitation Centre in the affected
States/UTs have been made responsible for providing aids and appliances for the
disabled persons. Director, National Institute for Mentally Handicapped has
been camping at Chennai to coordinate relief work relating to disabled person.
A team of rehabilitation psychologists has been camping at Cuddalore, Tamil
Nadu for psychological intervention to the suffering persons and trained local
people on counseling.
14. Ministry of Tribal Affairs
All the
primitive tribes (Aboriginals) are reported to be safe except Nicobaris.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs have deputed teams to collect hamlet wise status.
The details are as under:
|
Aboriginal (Tribe Name)
|
Population as per 2001 Census
|
Location/
Island Name
|
Present Status
|
|
Andamanese
|
43
|
Strait Island
|
-Safe in Adi Basera, Port Blair
(41 and 5 children at VKV hostel)
|
|
Onges
|
96
|
Little Island
|
-Safe in Little Andaman. 5 Onges
at G.B. Pant Hospital since 23.12.04
|
|
Jarawas
|
240
|
Middle/South Andaman
|
Safe in the habitat. 3 in G.B.
Pant Hospital since 22.12.04.
|
|
Sentinelese
|
39
|
North Sentinel
|
32 were seen on 30th
December, 2004
|
|
Shompens
|
398
|
Great Nicobar
|
Reported to be safe.
|
|
Nicobaris
|
28653
|
Nicobars
|
1151 (approx) lives lost – 5580
missing (estimated)
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15. Ministry of Science & Technology and
IMD:
The India
Metrological Department (IMD) is providing the weather forecast and monitoring
the seismic activity on a continuous basis. The Ministry of Science and
Technology is organizing brainstorming session in a workshop on 21st
and 22nd January 2005 in Delhi to evolve a road map for Tsunami
early warning system.
16. Ministry of Rural Development:
The
Ministry of Rural Development has released the Central share of allocation of
funds under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) for the year 2004-05 to the States of
Andhra Pradesh (Rs. 85.43 crore), Kerala(Rs. 27.29 crore), Tamil Nadu ( Rs.
48.41 crore), A& N Islands (Rs. 3.53 crore) and Pondicherry (Rs. 1.08
crore). Additional Central assistance
approved by the Cabinet for construction/reconstruction of damaged houses in
the rural areas would be released after the receipt of the report of the
Central Teams.
17. Ministry of External Affairs:
Teleconferences
among members of the Core Group on Tsunami Relief that took place among the
representatives of US, Australia, Japan and India on 31st, 2004 and
on 1st January,2005
discussed the matter
relating to relief supplies in the tsunami affected countries.
As per the
reports from Indian Mission, 7 Indian national have died and 12-15 are reported
missing in Sri Lanka; one in Maldives, 3 in Thailand and 2 in Indonesia.
Other
States:
The relief
supplies from the States have been lifted for Car Nicobar, Sri Lanka and
Maldives. The States of Karnataka (Rs. 5.00 crore) Maharashtra(Rs. 5.00 crore
), Gujarat (Rs.7.00 crore) and NCT of
Delhi(Rs.2.00) have announced the cash relief to the affected States/UTs. The
Relief Assistance from States is as
under:
Karanataka: 302.83 MT
of relief materials worth Rs. 14.50 crore.
Maharashtra: 792 MT
of relief materials
Orissa: 170.35 MT
of relief materials
West
Bengal: 111.20 MT of relief materials
Delhi: 151.90 MT
of relief materials
MP: 7.0 MT of
relief materials
Ministry of Home Affairs
New Delhi, Pausa 21,
1926January 11, 2005
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Press Note: Tsunami impact– Relief, Response and Rehabilitation measures
