Andaman tense even after withdrawal of tsunami watch

Port Blair, Sept 13 (UNI) The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, administration has withdrawn the tsunami watch sounded at 0630 hours this morning.

''We did not issue any tsunami alert. Only a tsunami watch was issued officially,'' Disaster Control Room officials here told UNI.

There was huge panic in the Island following media reports of a mega quake at south coast of the island of Sumatra, which followed an 8.4 tremor in the same area 14 hours earlier.

However, the Police Control Room here had alerted all their units in the different parts of the union territory to monitor the situation closely as a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, some people in coastal area of southern group of Islands, who had moved for hilly areas following the alert, are still reluctant to return.

''Every quake reminds us of the mega tsunami in December 2004 had claimed the lives of nearly 3,800 people and rendered 42,000 others homeless,'' said Vinay Gopal, a teacher posted in Car Nicobar Island, which was the worst hit by the calamity.

UNI