Andaman crisis: Rescue operation begins, 17 people rescued in first shuttle

Rescue operations of around 1,400 stranded tourists in two islands of Andamans due to cyclonic weather began this morning as the Navy, Coast Guard and Union Territory administration jointly undertook a major evacuation drive.

A defence official said three choppers of the Indian Air force landed at Havelock island, as the weather improved today, and brought back 17 people in the first shuttle.

Six naval ships, two of these from Coast Guard, sailed out in the morning hours from Port Blair for the rescue operations, the official said.

The operation began in full swing as the weather improved with the sun shining, four days after the cyclonic weather stranded thousands in two islands of Havelock and Neil.

All tourists are safe and their needs are being taken care of by the administration.

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.