PORT BLAIR: The normal life in the remote islands went for a toss with the depression nearing Andaman and Nicobar Islands intensifying into Cyclonic Storm Vardah on Thursday.
The Andaman’s State Disaster Control Room issued a warning stating, cyclone Vardah is likely to intensify into a severe cyclone by early morning of December 9th 2016. “Very high speed winds are expected along with heavy rain. All public are advised to remain indoors on 9th December,” the caution read.
All schools and colleges of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in the meantime, are asked to remain shut. The Emergency Operation Centre has put all line departments on high alert.
Meanwhile, attempts to reach Havelock Island to evacuate nearly 1400 stranded tourists failed even today as two vessels of Andaman’s shipping department sent to fetch them, returned empty to Port Blair, because of rough weather.
Many flights stood cancelled and some of them were diverted midway from India. Tourists stranded in Port Blair protested against SpiceJet as the airlines at the last minute cancelled its flights after having the passengers onboard.
Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jagadish Mukhi in a video message today assured that the local administration is taking all the efforts possible to help the stranded tourists.
The heavy rains that lashed the islands have flooded many parts of North and Middle Andaman, blocking the Andaman Trunk Road. This road connects North and Middle Andaman with Port Blair city. Several regions have been facing long hours of power outage.