Jayalalithaa orders speedy relief for Andaman victims

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Sunday expressed deep sorrow at the death of at least 28 people in a boat capsize near Andaman islands, and ordered officials to take necessary action for providing relief to the survivors.

In a statement issued here, Jayalalithaa said senior state government officials have been ordered to immediately reach Port Blair, the Andaman and Nicobar islands capital, to take action to provide medical relief to those who have been rescued.

The accident took place between Ross Island and North Bay near Port Blair. The tourist boat Aqua Marine with around 45 people onboard belonged to a private company.

Jayalalithaa said that out of the total 45 passengers, 33 were from Kanchipuram district, around 70 km from here.

She said majority of the dead were from Kanchipuram. Orders have been issued to bring the bodies here at the government's cost.

She also ordered the release of Rs.100,000 as solatium for the families of each of the dead.

"Around 10 people have been admitted to a hospital. The number of bodies recovered is 21 and one person is missing. All others have been saved," the union territory's Director General of Police Sudhir Yadav told IANS.

He said further details are being ascertained.