After a gruelling wait of four days, rescue operation finally began to rescue around 1,900 tourists who have been stranded in Andamans as torrential rains lashed the island destination. As of now, 425 tourists have been evacuated by Indian Navy from Havelock Island in Andamans.
The weather in the Andamans improved with the Navy, Coast Guard and Union Territory administration finally initiating a joint evacuation of the tourists in Havelock island.
Six naval ships, two of these from Coast Guard, sailed out in the morning hours from Port Blair for the rescue operations, officials said here.
Three Indian Air Force helicopters were also taking part in the evacuation process as the weather improved with the sun shining.
"Six Indian Navy ships and two Indian Coast Guard ships sailed out at 9.30 a.m. from Port Blair for rescue operations. Three Indian Air Force helicopters also taking part in IN, ICG, Army, State administration joint operation for evacuation of stranded tourists in the Havelock Island," Indian Navy said in a statement.
The rescue operation in two islands of Havelock and Neil was hit due to the cyclonic weather since Monday.
All tourists are safe and their needs are being taken care of by the administration, another official said.
Located about 40 km from here, Havelock and Neil islands are the most popular tourist attractions of Andamans, and the worst affected.
"A decision has been taken that hotels, where tourists are stranded, will not take room rent from them, besides giving them food and water for free," Deputy Commissioner of South Andamans Udit Prakash Rai had said yesterday.
The sudden evacuation mission was initiated at the request of the A&N disaster management which speculates that a cyclonic storm might struck Havelock, an island about 36 km from capital Port Blair.
The Navy had on Wednesday made its first attempt to rescue the tourists stranded in Hevelock. However, due to extreme weather conditions, the tourists could not reach the jetty to board the ships.
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