Saturday, January 1 2005 20:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Port Blair: Six days after killer tsunamis struck Andaman and Nicobar, about a 1000 bodies were reportedly still lying scattered on different islands, while 5400 persons remained missing, as the efforts were stepped up to restore communications and damaged roads and jetties.

"About 1000 bodies are still lying in different islands. But it is not that all the bodies are in one place. Efforts are being made to dispose them," Gen N C Vij, Chief of Army Staff told reporters in Port Blair after visiting Car Nicobar.

To persistent queries on the number of bodies, the Army Chief said, "I am told that 1000 bodies, are lying about, but nowhere are the people sure of figures. You have to cross check with the Lt Governor. I have not made a head count."

Lt General B S Thakur, Commander in Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Unified Command and spokesman of the nascent Integrated Relief Command (IRC), which came into being today, said that all bodies found near roads and tracks had been disposed off.

Only bodies, which were buried under debris, or were in inaccessible areas could not be disposed off, he said. "We are using sniffer dogs to trace these bodies."