Navy to rescue of tourists stuck in Andamans

Port Blair, December 7

At least 1,400 tourists are stranded at Havelock and Neil Islands in the Andamans due to cyclonic weather conditions. The Navy has pressed four ships — Bitra, Bangaram, Kumbhir and LCU 38 — into service to evacuate them.

The two islands, about 40 km from Port Blair, have been hit the most by the cyclonic weather conditions caused by a severe depression over southeast Bay of Bengal, which caused heavy rainfall, strong winds and rough sea conditions.

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The administration has  declared the cyclonic weather as 'L1 Disaster'.

"About 1,400 tourists are now stranded and unable to return to Port Blair to fly back home," South Andaman's DC Udit Prakash Rai said.

The local populace of 10 villages has been hit severely by the cyclone which has hampered all movement. PTI