Monday, February 14 2005 14:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Katchall (Andaman and Nicobar): Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil yesterday (Feb 13, 2005) toured Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, devastated by tsunami and reviewed rehabilitation work.

Patil, accompanied by Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lt Governor Ram Kapse, visited relief camps in Katchall and Kamorta in the Nancowrie group of Islands and Car Nicobar Island devastated by the major earthquake and the subsequent tsunami that smashed the region on December 26, 2004.

The Home Minister instructed the officials involved in the rehabilitation work to shift the people who lost their belongings to temporary shelters before the onset of monsoon in the first week of April.

Patil also met tribal chieftains to know their needs and their expectations from the Government in their rehabilitation.

He assured the victims that the Government would leave no stone unturned to rehabilitate those affected by the tsunami.

Relief material required for reconstruction of the tsunami devastated areas has left the mainland and it would reach the affected areas in a day or two, he said.

Katchall is one of the worst hit tsunami places in the archipelago.