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India offers navy for Asian humanitarian relief 

What is India News Service, Friday, 7 January 2005, 1400 hrs IST

External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh assured leaders of nations along the Indian Ocean rim and in South-East Asia that New Delhi would be "happy to place the strengths of the Indian Navy for use in humanitarian relief in the region." 

Addressing the extraordinary summit on the tsunami disaster, organised by the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Singh said: "We have placed a hospital ship off the coast of Aceh, Indonesia, which has been the worst hit area. This ship is providing emergency rations, medicines, tents and first-aid kits. It is also equipped to set up on-shore medical facilities. 

"Another naval ship has brought relief and emergency medical supplies. Even as I speak, the Indian relief effort at Meulaboh is in full operation. An on-shore field hospital has been set up in this devastated town, and relief supplies are being delivered and distributed to the victims. We are ready to do more to assist Indonesia in required areas." 


India\92s loss in tsunami Rs 5,322 crore: The The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which bore the brunt of the tsunami, are now the focus of maximum help by the armed forces, with 16 ships and six giant transport planes ferrying hundreds of tonnes of relief supplies every day.

Kalam for tsunami prediction mechanism: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam exhorted scientists to develop a tsunami prediction mechanism within the next five years, while addressing the 92nd Indian Science Congress here yesterday.

Gensets bring hope to Andaman relief camps: Though authorities have been quick to restore electricity to 40 per cent of the areas, it would need a herculean effort to bring back normalcy to the islands. 


Aborigines' traditional wisdom saved them in Andamans: ASI director feels that a premonition of disaster, early warning systems developed by their forefathers and adapted successfully by the descendants till date, gave them adequate time to reach safer places 

Website on tsunami victims launched: The Tamil Nadu police has launched a website to provide information on persons who have died or are missing in the tsunami disaster in Nagapattinam district.

In search of lost lives: Many fishermen hate to be languishing in makeshift shelters, while the peak fishing season is already on. And this is the first time they are missing it.

He stands tall because of his work: Among the tsunami victims in Cuddalore district he stands tall not because of his height and immaculate \93dastars\94 but because of his relentless hard work in the past 10 days.

How moneylenders muddy the waters in relief payouts: The smashed trawlers at Akkaraipettai are slowly beginning to tell a tale of hidden ownerships, which can complicate the compensation package being planned by the Tamil Nadu government.