Port Blair, Apr 04: Pre-monsoon low-pressure systems are normal over the Indian Ocean and if the sea-surface temperature and other factors remain ideal, they often intensify into cyclonic storms with destructive force. On Friday morning, one such system developed over the North Andaman Sea region of the Bay of Bengal in the form of a depression—an intense low-pressure area. However, no substantial impact was forecast across any Indian coast as the system failed to gain much strength.
Despite low-impact in terms of wind speed, the first depression of the season did manage to draw in substantial moisture to drench many parts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. After sustaining its strength for 24 hours, the system weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area on Saturday morning by 11.30 am, confirmed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
According to recent forecast of IMD issued today Thunderstorm with lightning likely to occur at one or two places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands tomorrow.

 

Port Blair, Apr 01 In the early hours of 31 March 2021, alert Army personnel of the Army Component deployed at Birchganj Military Station noticed a few suspicious packages that had washed ashore on the Nariyal Bageecha beach of Birchganj Military Station. On detecting the suspicious packages, the Army personnel promptly informed the local police who reached the site and confirmed the packages to be containing Methamphetamine, a banned drug.
A total of 31.2 kgs of Methamphetamine was recovered from the site by Police who seized the packages for further investigation. The Army personnel, with timely reporting, have facilitated this major drug haul, thereby contributing towards the fight against Narcotics in the islands.

Port Blair, Mar 31: The Indian Meteorological Department has issued forecast for 01 April and 02 April 2021. According to the forecast, on Thursday 01 April, 2021. Thunder-squall with lightning accompanied by gusty wind with speed reaching 50 to 60 Kmph likely to occur at one or two places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Heavy rain (7-11cm) likely to occur at one or two places over Andaman Islands.
On Friday 02 April 2921, thunderstorm with lightning accompanied by gusty wind with speed reaching 30 to 40 Kmph likely to occur at one or two places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Meanwhile fishermen have been advised by Andaman and Nicobar Administration not to venture into sea along and off Andaman coast from 31st March to 3rd April 2021.
“A low pressure area has formed over South East Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Andaman sea, its likely likely to become more marked over Central parts of Andaman sea and neighbourhood during next 24 hours and likely to concentrated into a depression over the same region during subsequent 24 hours, squally weather with wind speed exceeding 45kmph is very likely from 31st March over Andaman sea, fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along and off Andaman coast from 31st March to 3rd April 202,” a release from state Disaster Control Room said here today.

Port Blair, Mar 30: The Indian Coast Guard today issued caution for local residents and fishermen of Andaman and Nicobar Islands regarding formation of a low pressure area over Southeast Bay of Bengal.

“The recent weather forecast indicates formation of low pressure area over Southeast Bay of Bengal. It is likely to intensify further during subsequent 24 hours and is likely to become well marked deep depression moving northeasterly direction towards Southern Group of Islands (SGI). Under its influence, heavy rain, squally winds gusting upto 30-35 knots and very rough sea conditions are likely to remain over Andaman sea upto 04 April 2021,” an official weather warning issued by Indian Coast Guard in Andaman said here today.

Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard has also shared the weather information with civil administration including fisheries authorities and the Coast Guard Stations at various locations in A & N Region, in coordination with local fisheries authorities, are sensitizing the fishing community on persisting rough seas/inclement weather at sea and urging the fishermen to refrain from moving out to sea from 31 March onwards.

“The Coast Guard vessels on deployment are sensitizing fishermen at sea and guiding them to return harbour. All Coast Guard establishments and ships in A & N Region have been alerted and directed to maintain highest state of preparedness to meet any contingency,” the Coast Guard caution added.

Meanwhile various Islands of Andaman and Nicobar are already witnessing overcast sky and as per Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) thunderstorm with lightning accompanied by gusty wind with speed reaching 30 to 40 Kmph likely to occur at one or two places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands in next two days.

“Heavy rain likely to occur at one or two places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands,” IMD weather update said.

Port Blair, Mar 28: Cochin Shipyard Ltd. has delivered MV ‘Sindhu’, a 500 pax passenger-cum-150 MT Cargo Vessel built indigenously for Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Protocol signing & handing over ceremony was held on board the vessel at Cochin Shipyard today. The world class ship will prove to be boon in Shipping Service for the far flung Islands. The Protocol documents were signed by Capt. Ashutosh Pandey, Director of Shipping Services (DSS), representing A&N Administration and Mr. Sivakumar A, General Manager (Ship Building for CSL in the presence of Mr. Madhu S Nair, CMD CSL, Directors, Employees and others.
The basic design of the vessel has been developed using world renowned Naval Architects Knud E Hansen of Denmark collaborating with M/s Smart Engineering and Design Solution, Kochi with the detail production engineering design of CSL bringing international technology under ‘Make in India’ ambit. CSL with its expanded facilities in India’s East and West coast including new facility in A&N Islands will provide full life cycle support for its efficient operation.
This vessel which can cruise at 16 knots is built to the highest standards of the Indian Register of Shipping and American Bureau of Shipping meeting the Indian Merchant Shipping rules and is customized for Indian requirements with very high level of safety and comfort comparable to the international standards.
The vessel manned with a crew of 61 is provided with deluxe cabins, first-class cabins, second class cabins, bunk class and seating class in addition to 150 tons of cargo handled using an onboard fitted crane. The vessel is equipped with all modern amenities for the passengers.
The vessel is having amenities like Recreation Rooms, Library, Gymnasium, Hospital, Conference Room etc.
Meanwhile, the second 500 pax sister vessel which is presently under advance stage of construction is also expected to join the fleet in current year.

John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Mar 26: A cargo mini truck (407) today plunged into the sea from Dundas Point Jetty at around 12.30 PM this afternoon.
As per information received here, the mini cargo truck loaded with Ice Bars from Dundas Point Ice Plant came to Dundas Point Jetty to supply ice to fishing dinghies.
For some unknown reasons, the driver of the truck failed to control the truck and while going reverse, he took the truck beyond the jetty’s edge, which caused this accident.

The driver however, jumped off the truck at right time to save himself but the truck fell on a fishing dinghy which was berthed right under the jetty for collecting crushed ice pieces from the truck.
According to reports, both dinghy and the truck sank immediately into the sea but luckily no one was injured in this accident. The dinghy operator was not in the dinghy when the accident took place.
Immediately Marine Police Force and staff of PS Ograbraj reached at the spot and around 4:30 PM both the Dinghy and the Truck were salvaged by police team. Coast Guard team also reportedly reached near the site to oversee the situation.

John Robert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Mar 24: Large number of College students of JNRM today gathered in the college premises and organized protest demanding open book exam in offline mode. The protest began at 9.00 AM under the banner of NSUI, in which students from various Department of the college participated.
Soon large number of police personnel reached the venue to maintain law and order situation and at around 10.20 AM JNRM Principal, Dr. Hemant Kumar Sharma, SDPO South Andaman, SHO PS Aberdeen and other faculty members also reached the spot.
It is learnt that the Principal of the college tried to convince the students but that yielded no results. The Principal of the college reportedly told students that the college had received notice on 17 March 2021 by Pondicherry University to conduct exam in online mode/ offline / blended mode of exam.
Immediately on 19 March 2021, the Principal Dr. Hemant Kumar Sharma wrote a letter to controller of examination Pondicherry University mentioning that JNRM is not in a position to conduct exam in online mode due to the poor internet connectivity and especially because, students are coming from far flung Islands. The Principal reportedly further mentioned that college is not having sufficient infrastructure man power to facilitate for online mode of examination, currently more the 3500 students registered for various subjects to undertake odd semester examinations.
According to student the college had suggested the university to conduct exam in offline mode for the current semester with open book, which will facilitate to conduct the said examination smoothly.
But on 22 March 2021 at 06:06PM a mail was received from Assistant Registered UG/PG Examination wing, Pondicherry University in a note said that “Open Book System is not allowed. This has to be strictly adhered.”
It is learnt that later somehow the students were convinced by the college authorities and with the help of police students were sent to their classes while a few students were detained by police. It is learnt that all detained students were released later.

John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Mar 22: A cement concrete slab of an under-construction building at Delanipur area today collapsed, killing the owner of the building Mr. Shiva Kumar, 46 years.
As per details this morning at around 10,00 AM Mr. Shiva Kumar, a private contractor and owner of the building had gone to check the construction works with this younger brother Mr. Mayilvanan, 45 years.
After reaching on the site he saw that one log, supporting the roof slab is weak, following which he asked the labourers to replace the log.
It is reported that while replacing the log, the roof slab collapsed on Mr. Shiva Kumar. Mr. Mayilvanan, who was standing close to his brother with two other labourers got injured in this accident.
Mr. Shiva Kumar was stuck under the roof and hence police and fire bridge were informed about this incident immediately, following which teams of PS Chatham and Fire Brigade reached the spot and brought Mr. Shiva Kumar out.
Soon he was rushed to G B Pant Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Other injured people were admitted in G B Pant Hospital.

 

Vikramaditya

Port Blair, Mar 19: The recent news report saying that Andaman and Nicobar Administration is planning to hand over two mega passengers ships, MV Atal and MV Ashoka, being built at Cochin Shipyard ltd., to Indian Navy, has triggered a row in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Now the lone Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has raised the issue very firmly on the floor of Parliament and demanded to retain these ships for Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

“On 16th March 2021, I raised the issue in Parliament regarding the two ship MV Atal and MV Ashoka, which the government is planning to give to Indian Navy. I requested the Government to retain the ships with Andaman and Nicobar Administration for the welfare of the people of these Islands,” the MP wrote in a social media post.

“This is very sad news. I request to retain these ships for Andaman because these ships are being built for Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This is like buying ingredients for Biryani but once Biryani is ready, someone else is going away with it,” Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma said on the floor of Parliament on 16 March 2021.

Earlier, Mr. Sharma had written a letter in this regard to the Prime Minister of India.

In his letter to PM the Andaman MP, Mr. Sharma had said that the Andaman and Nicobar Administration in the year 2017 has placed an order on the Cochin Shipyard limited for construction of four passenger-cum – cargo vessels for Andaman & Nicobar Administration under the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Government of India as a replacement to existing ships of similar categories which have outlived their service life and has become unsafe & unseaworthy for making voyages.

As per official sources, these two 1200 passenger cum 1000 tonnes ships MV ATAL and MV ASHOKA being constructed at Cochin Shipyard Limited is the replacement to MV NICOBAR and MV NANCOWRY which were constructed and pressed into service in the year 1991 and 1992 respectively.

At present there is only one ship namely MV Swaraj Dweep for commutation of Islanders between Port Blair and Ports at Kolkata Chennai and Visakhapatnam.

This ship built in the year 1999 has lived a service life of 22 years and is undergoing major refit and repairs owing to her deteriorated structural and machinery condition.

Mr. Sharma added that as per prevailing shipping norms, a well-maintained passenger Ship has a service life expectancy of around 25 to 30 years, therefore taking into account the prevailing condition of this ship, she is also apparently on verge of retirement from service.

“Withdrawal of the ships under-construction namely MV Atal and MV Ashoka from the Island- Mainland passenger service sector of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the only available ship MV Swaraj Dweep also nearing her retirement, the passenger ship service in the Island – Mainland sector will completely cease to operate in next two to three years,” the MP mentioned in his letter to PM earlier.

The decision to handover mega passenger ships MV Atal and MV Ashoka now seems to have become a major issue in Andaman and Nicobar Islands as almost all political parties and organizations are opposing this move.