Heavy overnight rains in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands have disrupted normal life in the islands developing into flood-like situation in north and middle Andamans. Located about 40 km from state capital Port Blair, Havelock and Neil islands are the most popular tourist attractions of Andamans, and the worst affected. Nearly 450 tourist at Havelock islands and 500 at Neil islands had been stranded in the islands.
The Indian Air Force launched an evacuation operation for rescue of tourists stranded at Havelock and Neil Islands in Andamans since morning today. Three Helicopters (MI-17 V5) of Indian Air Force were pressed into service for the rescue operation. Total 14 sorties carried out, 11 sorties from Havelock carrying 230 passengers and 03 sorties from Neil island carrying 65 passengers. A total of 295 tourists have been rescued by Indian Air Force until now. The breakdown of rescued passenger’s data is appended below:
Total Passengers-295
Ladies-130
Children-24
Foreigners-12