Port Blair, March 20: People living in coastal areas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands were evacuated to safety as the archipelago experienced heavy rain and strong winds due to Cyclone Asani on Sunday, officials said.
Inter-island shipping services and those with Chennai and Visakhapatnam have been stopped and fishermen warned not to venture into the sea as the year’s first cyclonic storm neared the archipelago, they said.
Around 150 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed and six relief camps opened in various parts of the islands, the officials said.
“I urge people not to panic as the administration is taking all measures to ensure their safety. A total of 68 NDRF personnel have been deployed in Port Blair, and 25 each in Diglipur, Rangat and Hutbay areas,” Disaster Management Secretary Pankaj Kumar said.
North and Middle Andaman and South Andaman districts, including Port Blair, are experiencing heavy rain and strong winds, the official said. (PTI)
