Thursday, January 13 2005 22:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Port Blair: As the toll in the tsunami- ravaged Andaman and Nicobar islands rose to 1837 and those missing 5625, many maggot-infested bodies lying on different shores had to be burnt by rescue operators to nip any epidemic from spreading.

Lt Gen Aditya Singh, who is taking over the command of the inter-forces military operation in the archipelago from tomorrow (Jan 14, 2005), told newspersons in Port Blair today (Jan 13, 2005) that the rotting bodies, many of which were falling apart when picked, had to be burnt at the spot that they were sighted.

"Nineteen days have passed after the tsunami. The bodies, which are now being found, are decomposed beyond recognition. We have to burn them at the spot," he said.

"Maggots were crawling out of the bodies and the Army could not wait to identify them or ascertain their religion. In any case we can not bury them as it might spark off an epidemic," he said.