Andaman & Nicobar tense after Tsunami alert

Port Blair, Sep 12 (UNI) The situation remained tense in the Andaman and Nicobar island after the administration issued tusnami alert this evening following a 7.9 magnitude quake near Indonesia's Sumatra island.

''We have not withdrawn the tsunami alert yet, '' Kailash Chand, the Deputy Commissioner of Nicobar District, told UNI today.

The Disaster Control room in Port Blair was also keeping a close watch on the whole situation.

Meanwhile, people living in coastal areas of the Southern Group of Islands have moved to hilly areas.

Some people had moved to their friends and relatives' houses.

''Any big tsunami in this region is frightening. Better we move to hilly place,'' said Vinay Gopal, a teacher of Car Nicobar Islands.

Police personnel had been deployed in all the coastal regions to keep people away.

''We know Indonesia has withdrawn tsunami alert but we have not, '' official in Disaster Control Room told UNI in Port Blair.

For the tsunami victims of 2004 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, today's tsunami alert had refreshd their past experiences. ''This will give us nightmare for months now, '' Elsie, a villager of Malacca village in Car Nicobar, said.

A tsunami in 2004 December killed nearly 3,800 people in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and left other 42,000 homeless.

'' We are monitoring the situation very closely, '' K S Singh, the chief of Islands' Disaster Management Committee said.

UNI