Thursday, December 30 2004 18:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: In the wake of the threats of fresh tidal waves, the Air Force and the Navy today (Dec 30, 2004) started mass evacuation of people from the southern Nicobar Islands to safer areas as a major aerial reconnaissance was mounted over the remote island territories much of which are submerged.

The Air Force also started air lifting vehicles and staff to the Car Nicobar Island in order to launch a major rescue and relief operations in the interior parts, Defence Ministry officials said.

Officials said that IAF helicopters and naval ships were making their way to remotest part of the southern Nicobar group of islands to re-establish contact with these territories snapped by Sunday's devastating sea storm.

"Aerial dropping of cooked foods and medicines is being undertaken in these islands most of which have been submerged by the rising seawaters", officials said.

So far, the Navy and the Air Force have evacuated over 10,000 people from the island territories as well as threatened areas on the eastern coast.

The Armed Forces have distributed about 200 tonnes of relief material in the island territories as well as in the affected areas on the mainland.

For the first time, IAF planes today airlifted a complete field hospital, which is being made operational in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo to treat large number of casualties in the southern part of the island nation.