1,400 tourists stranded on Havelock Island; Rajnath says rescue ops to begin once cyclone subsides
Ships deployed can make any further movement only after weather improves.
Four ships deployed by the Indian Navy for the evacuation of as many as 1400 stranded tourists are standing outside the harbour at Havelock Island for the second day in a row due to bad weather.
In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, four ships — INS Bitra, Bangaram, Kumbhir and LCU 38 — were deployed to carry out the evacuation operations by the Indian Navy after the Andaman and Nicobar administration sought help from them. But, the rough sea and torrential rains have barred these ships from entering the harbour.
Sources in the Indian Navy say that ships can make any further movement only after weather improves. However, the Met office has predicted that the deep depression will further intensify into a cyclonic storm making the evacuation operations even tougher.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands Governor Jagdish Mukhi on Wednesday confirmed that 1,400 tourists are stuck on Havelock Island and added that the administration has asked them to stay indoors till the weather gets normal.
On the other hand, the Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh requested the stranded tourists to not panic and that the government is making all arrangements for safe evacuation.
"The government will launch the rescue operations immediately after the intensity of the cyclone reduces. The teams are ready in Port Blair," he wrote on Twitter.