Storms leave thousands of passengers stranded in Andaman

Port Blair, Aug 10 (UNI) The Andaman and Nicobar administration suspended the sailings of Inter-Island as well as Mainland bound vessels due to prevailing unfavourable weather conditions.

The administration has also hoisted local cautionary signal No III at all the Ports of the far-flung scattered islands.

Meanwhile M V Nancowry, which sailed for Chennai on August 08 with nearly 1000 passengers from Port Blair could not sail further and later returned back to Port Blair yesterday evening.

Similarly the sailing of M V Akbar for Kolkata which was scheduled to depart on August 09, has also been suspended. Only a few ferries on shallow water were operating, sources in Andaman's Shipping Department said.

Sudden suspension left thousands of passengers, on various remote islands, stranded for more than three days now.

The administration is not ready to take chance in stormy weather.

The local Met department has also forecast strong southwest to westerly wind speeding between 55 to 65 km per hour and very rough to high seas along and off Andaman and Nicobar coast.

Fishermen were advised not to venture into sea by the Andaman Administration.

UNI SKR RH rd 1407