Campbell Bay, Jan 06: Ten days after Tsunami hit the islands of Andaman and Nicobar, Campbell Bay still looks deserted with signs of devastation all around.
The small airstrip of the defence seems to be the only place witnessing some activity with Indian Air Force and Coast Guard aircraft and helicopters making sorties with relief materials, doctors and local administration personnel.
The market, which was engulfed by Tsunami waves, was closed, the head quarter of the coast guard for Car Nicobar group of islands was virtually washed away and the jetty, the
life line of this island, was damaged and the compound of Andaman works, a ship repairing unit, still submerged.
Outside the airstrip, locals queued up and patiently waited for an IAF aircraft to take them to the mainland.
"If we stay back here, we will not survive. For us, nothing is left. We could only save our lives by fleeing to the hillocks and Laldigris (a nearby place)," Vinod, a resident, said.
In the market, a few shop owners are found trying to salvage whatever is left after the Tsunami.
Milind Patil, Commander Coast Guard, Nicobar group of islands, said Vijay Nagar, Joginder Nagar, Gandhi Nagar and Shastri Nagar -- all villages were completely washed away and most of the roads were damaged.
Indira Point, extreme tip in the southern part of the
island which is 51 km from here, is still submerged and only
the lighthouse there could be seen now, he said.
Bureau Report
