Sunday, December 26 2004 19:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The killer tidal waves have left 10 people dead at Indian Air Force (IAF) Base in Car Nicobar Island, three passenger ships damaged at Port Blair dry port besides causing major cracks at the Port Blair airport leaving the Island virtually cut off from the rest of the country, official sources said.

The sources said major damage was done to the IAF base in Car Nicobar where at least 10 people were dead in the huge Tsunami waves following Seismic movement off coast of Greater Nicobar Island.

The airport in Port Blair had developed cracks in the runway and it had been declared unfit for any civilian aircraft to land.

An AN-32 of IAF managed to make a landing this afternoon only after temporary patch- work was done on the tarmac. They said three passenger ships had been damaged at the dry port in Port Blair.

They said the crisis management group was focussing on the fate of nearly 45,000 people living in an area between Car Nicobar and Greater Nicobar Island was uncertain.

The communication system in this area was completely destroyed and the only mode of communication was the satellite phone, which was available with the Deputy Commissioner stationed at Car Nicobar Island.

The Navy had been asked to send some ships to Car Nicobar and other tiny Islands to make an assessment of the damages to the life and property.

Hundreds of pilgrims were also stranded at the Vivekananda rock in Kanyakumari who were being supplied food packets till ships reached to rescued them.