Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Dec 16: During the past two days, Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) have safely brought back more than 950 and Andaman Administration’s MV Coral Queen brought back 890 stranded tourists to Port Blair. All these people were stranded at the Havelock and Neil Islands due to bad weather and rough seas caused by cyclone Phethai in the Bay of Bengal.
To evacuate the stranded tourists and islanders, two Indian Naval Ships (IN) and two Indian Coast Guards (ICG) ships sailed out on 15th of December to Havelock. Two smaller ships of Coast Guard were also used to ferry the stranded tourists from Neil Island to Havelock, from where they were brought by these bigger INS and Coast Guard ships. About 740 civilians were successfully ferried to Port Blair by same evening.
Continuing the operations during the night, two Ships of Indian Navy carried 215 more stranded tourists and islanders and reached Port Bair on 16th December early morning prior to the resuming of normal ferry services.
The normal services of Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) ships and private ferries plying between the islands had been cancelled for the past two days due to inclement weather and a number of tourists were stranded at Havelock and Neil islands. They were eager to get back to Port Blair as many of them had return flights to catch. The Andaman and Nicobar Command deployed it’s assets to assist the administration in the rescue effort.
Meanwhile, one bigger vessel of Andaman and Nicobar Administration, MV Coral Queen made two trips to Havelock yesterday night and early this morning and brought back altogether 890 passengers to Port Blair.
Meanwhile, Mr. M.Vinod, President AATO, along with all its members has expressed gratitude to the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration, Deputy Commissioner South Andaman, Secretary Tourism, Director Shipping and all officials of Administration for their timely help for bringing back the stranded tourists from Havelock and Neil Island during the rough weather and also for requesting all the airlines to wave of the rescheduling Charges. AATO also expresses gratitude towards the team of Coast Guard who despite the rough weather sailed to these Islands and brought back maximum guests to Port Blair.
