Tuesday, March 29 2005 08:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Centre early today (Mar 29, 2005) withdrew its tsunami warning and said it was safe for coastal residents to return to their homes, nearly five hours after a massive earthquake struck off the Indonesian coast triggering fears of a possible tsunami hitting the Indian Ocean region.

It, however, asked authorities in coastal States and Andaman and Nicobar Islands to continue to keep a watch as a precautionary measure even as no incidents of any unusual wave activity or rising sea level was reported from anywhere in India's coastal areas.

Four hours have passed since the occurrence of the earthquake and no unusual sea conditions have been reported from Port Blair and Chennai, S K Swami, Director Disaster Management said in a message.

"The earthquake does not appear to have generated tsunamis over the Indian region and in view of this the advice issued earlier by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) regarding possibility of tsunami stands cancelled," the message said.

"...The possibility of danger has passed and people may go back to their homes where ever they have moved on their own or at places moved by the administration," the message issued to Chief Secretaries of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs was continuously monitoring the situation, it added.

Meanwhile, aftershocks continued to rattle the volatile Sumatra region in Indonesia with as many as four tremors recording in the last four hours.

Mild tremors were felt in Port Blair and Katchal Island late last night (Mar 28, 2005) after which ships were taken off the harbour.

Soon after the quake struck the Sumatra Island at 21:40 hrs (IST), the Centre activated its disaster management team in Delhi and issued warning to coastal states asking them to take all precautions and remain on highest state of preparedness.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to Chief Ministers of all coastal states and Andaman and Nicobar Lt Governor Ram Kapse and the Army, Navy and the Air Force were asked to be on high alert to react to any eventuality.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil also spoke over phone to Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and reviewed the preparedness of the armed forces.