Monday, December 27 2004 15:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Alarmed at the devastation in the southern coastline by killer tsunami waves, the West Bengal Government today (Dec 27, 2004) directed tourists holidaying in the sea resorts of Digha and Sankarpur to return within 48 hours.

It also alerted the port authorities and directed the administration to ensure that fishermen did not venture into deep seas.

Reviewing the situation at a high-level meeting, Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee said 5,000 tourists had already returned from the two sea resorts, but at least 35,000 were still there.

''These tourists have been asked to return from Digha and Sankarpur within 48 hours,'' Bhattacharjee said.

The State Government, he said, was in constant touch with the Andaman and Nicobar administration. Housing Minister Gautam Deb would visit Port Blair on Wednesday (Dec 29, 2004).

Bhattacharjee said that some tourists from West Bengal were still in Tamil Nadu and the administration was in touch with the State Government there.

Home Secretary A K Deb said that port authorities of Haldia and Kolkata had been put on alert in view of the situation.

He said that Chief Secretary Ashok Gupta left for Delhi to discuss the situation with the Centre.