SITREP-III
0900 Hrs 27.12.04

No.32-5/2004-NDM-I
Government of India
Ministry of Home Affairs

Subject:      Tsunami/Tidal waves on the South East Coast of the Country-due to earthquake of magnitude 8.00  (MW) scale off West Coast of Sumatra ( Indonesia )

          The Tsunami waves have caused devastation on the South East Coast of the country as also to other South Asian nations of Sri Lanka , Thailand , Indonesia and Maldives .  The worst affected states were Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The UTs affected were Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry . As per reports received so far the total death toll has reached the figure of 3000.  The Tsunami waves 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 8.0 (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.  There has again been an earthquake of 5.6 (MW) intensity in the islands of Andaman region.  The state machinery and the Government of India have mounted continued relief and rescue operations round the clock. The priority is now focused on relief supplies and evacuation in Nicobar Islands and assistance to Maldives and Sri Lanka .

A& N Islands

The worst affected islands are  Car Nicobar and Great Nicobar, which were cut off due to extensive inundation. Communication link, water supply have been disrupted in these areas. Two jetties of  Coast Guard and one  civil  Jetty  have been damaged and submerged. The Port Blair run away developed cracks and only 5000 ft  is usable.   About  2000 feet of Carnic Air Force runway is submerged.

 As per preliminary reports, 77 human lives(Car Nicobar- 73 including 65 defence personnel and their families and Great Nicobar-4)   have been lost. The causalities are likely to go up.   About 1000 persons are reported to be missing. 22 people including 8 policemen were earlier evacuated by the Coast Guard.

The A & N Administration have made following request for rescue and relief operations:

 (a)       Two additional flights one each from Kolkatta and Chennai for evacuation of stranded tourists at Port Blair.

(b)      Essential commodities and clothings

(c)       Containers for transportation of water(500)

(d)      Tents –10,000

(e)       Portable diesel pump sets of 3/5 HP capacity for draining out the water -10

(f)        Portable generator sets –200

(g)       Mobile satellite phones (50) and torches (1000)

(h)       Augmentation of telecom facilities – deputing experts from BSNL, Kolkatta along with equipments  

 The Ministry of Home Affairs is coordinating the relief efforts and is in constant touch with the UTs Administration and the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Health.

 The MHA had earlier arranged  470 Qtls. rice,  5 Qtls Atta, 77 Qtls sugar, 1400 blankets and 237 tents (30 MT load), which has been airlifted in  the morning of 27^th December,2004 from Tambram Air Port, Chennai.  In addition, two AN 32 Aircrafts and one IL 76 (20 MT) with full load ( 4 MT) of relief material  consisting blankets, clothes, drinking water and foods packets, will leave on 27^th December, 2004  for Islands one each from Bhubneshwar, Bhuj, and Ahmedabad.  Two specialized Team in Medical First Responder(MFR) –one each from ITBP and CISF have been flown on 27^th December, 2004 to Car Nicobar, for assisting the local Administration in rescue and relief operations. 8 Satellite phones also airlifted to Islands on 27^th December 2004 . 

 Ministry of Health has deputed a five-member team consisting of physicians and public health experts, on 27^th December, 2004 , to A& N Islands for emergency medical relief. The Team is also taking emergency medical stores.

Andhra Pradesh:

Tremors were felt at Triupati, Nellore , Krishan, Prakasam, Visakhapatnam , Srikakulam and West and East Godavari districts. Significant tidal surge experienced in Krishna , Guntur , Prakasam and Nellore districts.  

The death toll in the state has gone up to 69( 26- Krishna , 25 in Prakasam,  9  Nellore , 01 Guntur and 8 in West Godavari ).  About 800 persons are reported missing along with about 900 boats.  

The Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh visited the affected areas on 26.12.2004 and announced Rs.1 lakh in each of death, Rs.2,000 for funeral of the dead bodies, 25 kg rice per evacuated family.  The State Government has already initiated relief, rescue and evacuation measures. State Government has evacuated about 9,000 persons to the safer places and provided food packets. Medical Teams have been deputed to take sanitation measures in the affected villages.  

Two ships of Indian Coast Guard(ICG) have been deployed –one in Nellore and other at Visakahapatnam.  State Government has sought assistance of Coast Guards/Navy for search and rescue of missing fishermen. No other assistance is required by the State Government, at this stage.   

Kerala 

130 persons (104-Kollam,  21-Alleppy, 4 Ernakulam and 1 other districts) have lost their lives. About 300 people were reported to be stranded in a narrow strip of land between the coastal region of the backwater off  Oachira in Alappuzha district.  The Navy had sent their diving team by  road on 26.12.04 and started  rescue operations today the 27^th December, 2004 . There is no other request from the State Government, at this stage.    

The State Government has shown concern about their citizens living in Male.  Air dropping of food packets and medicines are being organized from 1200 hrs. today, the 27^th December, 2004 to Maldives .  

Tamil Nadu  

Tamil Nadu is the worst affected state in the mainland. The Tsunamis had caused sudden rise in the water resulting into inundation of many habitation along with the coastal areas. The State Government undertook relief and rescue operations and alerted the people to move to safer places.   The death toll in the State has gone upto 2367 ( 1329- Nagapatnam, 338- Cuddloor, 67- Kancheepuram, 132 - Chennai, 460- Kanyakumai, 04- Triuneveli, 29- Villupuram, 13- Thiruvarur  and 03- Thoothukkudi. State Government  reported occurrence of  tremors in Chennai. The water was reported to have entered Kalapakam Atomic Power Plan.  20 people were evacuated by the ICG helicopters.    

State Government  has dropped 1000 foodpackets at Vivaknanad Memorial, Kanyakumari. All the persons (1000) have been evacuated from the Memorial.  

Ministry of Health has deputed 30 doctors in Chennai.  A   three member Team headed by Consultant in Medicine has left in the evening of 26^th December, 2004 to Chennai.  Medical Teams  from  CGHS/RD office/APHO, Chennai, consisting of specialists have been formed,  headed by the Regional Director for Health & FW, Chennai and emergency medical stores from CGHS/ Central Government. Medical relief is being provided medical relief to the affected victims.  

The State Government has requested for disposal of dead bodies. Army is assisting the local authorities in this work. State Government has been advised to deploy Civil Defence Volunteers. 400 personnel from CRPF were also deployed for relief work. State Government has constituted  Teams to find out the missing people.   State Government has been requested to indicate their additional medical requirements to the nodal officer of the Ministry of Health, based in Chennai which has been arranged. No other assistance is required by the State Government, at this stage.   

Pondicherry  

As a result of rise of sea level upto several metres in waves, coastal areas in the Pondicherry and Karaikal region were inundated. People living in low lying areas were evacuated to safer places and essential commodities including readymade meals provided. In Karaikal, a bridge along with Arasalar river was damaged and the communication on the southern part of Kariakal region is affected. The PWD has launched repair of the bridge. In Pondicherry also there has been damage to fishermen hamlets.   

Police and fire services have been pressed into service. 307 deaths (236 - Karaikal and 71– Pondicherry ) have been reported.  

A   three member high level Central health Team headed by Deputy Director General  (Medical) was deployed in the evening 26^th December,2004 to JIPMER Pondicherry. Teams from JIPMER, Pondicherry have been constituted by the Ministry of Health to visit affected areas and provide emergency medical relief.  

Pondicherry Administration  is now engaged in  disposal of dead bodies. It has been advised to  utilize services of Civil Defence Volunteers.  There is no other request from Pondicherry Administration , at this stage.  

Orissa  

The Relief Commissioner informed that tremors were felt in Cuttack   and Bhubneshwar. However, there are no report of any Tsunamis waves.  There was no report of loss of human live and damage to property.  

The State Government has offered assistance in the form of supply of essential commodities for the affected areas of A&N Islands .  

West Bengal  

The Relief Commissioner informed that some tremors were felt in the coastal areas  but there is no report of damage or Tsunamis waves.  ICG has deployed a ship in Haldia, West Bengal for relief and rescue operations.   

MHA- Coordination  

After receiving the information, Ministry of Home Affairs is coordinating the rescue  and relief efforts  and are in constant touch with the Islands and concerned States/UT.   

The Ministry of Home Affairs had advised the Coastal States to be on constant vigil and requested to take necessary assistance from Army, Navy and Coast Guards, if needed and instruct all the concerned District Collectors of the coastal areas to take rescue, relief and evacuation operations.  

The neighboring States of  Orissa, Kerala and Gujarat   as also  CPMFs  were requested for food and essential items and dispatch of these items are being organized by MHA  on 27.12.04 for A & N Islands and Maldives . The states of Punjab , Madhya Pradesh, UP, HP, Maharashtra have also been requested to arrange the relief materials. The supplies to Andaman Nicobar Island is being arranged both Air and Ships.

Cabinet Secretary had reviewed  the situation and instructed to all concerned Ministries/Departments to provide necessary  logistic support to the affected States and UTs.  

Home Minister had left in the evening today, the 26^th December,2004 to visit the affected areas in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala  and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.  

Prime Minister had announced all  necessary support  to Sri Lanka and Maldives . Steps are being taken to provide assistance required by these countries to meet the situation.  

Sri Lanka  

The Government of Sri Lanka had also requested for Naval assistance to take their ships to Indian Coast . About 150 people were earlier reported to have  died as per preliminary reports. There are reports of more casualties and damages. Four Naval ships with relief assistance were sailed for Trincomalli and Colombo .  

Maldives .  

One ICG Donier aircraft was  deployed   on 26^th December,2004   from Trivandrum for damage assessment in Maldives . Air dropping of food packets   is being organized from 27.12.04 ( 12 Noon ).  

(S.K. Swami)
Director (NDM.I)
Tel: 23092698/Fax 23093750
Mobile : 9811061089
E.mail: skswami@hub.nic.in

  Human lives lost in the wake of Tsunami/ Tide Wave in the Bay of Bengal- 26^th December 2004  

at 0900 hrs. on 27.12.2004

NR = No casualty reported.