Monday, December 27 2004 21:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Concerned about the welfare of its nationals, India today (Dec 27, 2004) directed its missions in the tsunami-hit areas to provide all assistance to NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) as the External Affairs Ministry set up control rooms in New Delhi and in the affected countries for help.

One Indian has been reported dead and one injured in Thailand but Embassy officials and properties in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia are safe, the External Ministry said in a statement in New Delhi.

It said the Ministry has written to the Heads of Indian Missions in Maldives, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia regarding the welfare of NRs and PIOs in the wake of the destruction caused by 'Tsunami' tidal waves.

"The Missions have been directed to provide all assistance to NRIs/PIOs and expedite administrative formalities," the statement said.

The Ministry set up a control room, headed by Additional Secretary Talmiz Ahmad, having telephone numbers and E-mail addresses for assistance and coordination efforts. Control rooms have also been set up in Bangkok, Jakarta, Colombo, Male, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

The External Affairs Ministry said all Embassy officials and properties in Indonesian capital of Jakarta are safe. The 5000-member strong PIO community and 500 NRIs in the city of Medan are also reported safe, it said.

In Thailand also all Embassy officials are safe although one Indian was reported to have died and one injured in Phuket, the statement said.

The Embassy there has flown Consular officials to Phuket to provide consular assistance to Indian nationals, who may be holidaying there, it said.

In Malaysia also, all NRIs/PIOs and Embassy officials and properties are safe, the Ministry said.

It said as part of its assistance to the affected countries, Indian Naval ships have been rushed to Sri Lanka and Maldives.

A Dornier aircraft landed in Colombo yesterday with medical team and 600 kgs of medial supplies, the Ministry said.

India also responded to Sri Lanka's request for assistance in searching for fishermen and boats and four Naval vessels, laden with medical teams, supplies and relief equipments, were rushed to the Island nation, it said.

INS Sharda and INS Sutlej are headed towards Galle and are expected to reach by tonight. INS Sandhayak and INS Sukanya have been sent to Trincomalee and these are also expected to reach their destination by tonight.

All vessels have helicopters and divers, it said, adding the Indian Air Force is also helping in search and rescue operations there.

Three vessels have been rushed to Male, capital of Maldives.

INS Mysore has two helicopters and is expected to reach its destination tomorrow while INS Udaygiri and INS Aditya have one each and are expected to reach Male on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, the External Affairs Ministry said.

INS Aditya is carrying water and has a water purification plant on board, it said.

Medical teams, medical supplies and relief equipment are also on board these, the MEA statement said.

The telephone numbers of Delhi Control Room are: 00-91- 11-23011849 and 00-91-11-23382248. The E-mail addresses are asad@mea.gov.in and psasad@mea.gov.in.