India prepares for tsunami threat

New Delhi, Apr 11 (ANI): Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh on Wednesday said he has spoken to all the Chief Secretaries of the coastal states including Andaman and Nicobar Islands following the 8.5 magnitude earthquake, which struck the western coast of Indonesia.

"After the first earthquake itself, I spoke to all the Chief Secretaries of the coastal states Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. I also spoke to the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They allotted the Collectors of the Coastal Districts. The Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands also started evacuation of the southern portion of Andaman and Nicobar Islands," said Singh.

"We have sensors to measure the resultant waves, they have been set up at different places. So, when the resultant waves reached Campbell Bay, the difference in height was only about 30 centimeters, that was not a matter of worry. In the middle of Bay of Bengal, it was just seven centimeters at one point and two centimeters at another point that was also not a matter of worry," he added.

The Union Home Ministry has asked the Chief Secretaries of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all East Coast States to issue a Coastal Alert, in view of the alert issued by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) following the earthquake of magnitude 8.5 on the richter scale in Indonesia today.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture out in the sea. The Andaman Administration has moved people from Nicobar side to safer areas, as a precautionary measure. The precautionary drill has been activated.

NDRF teams have been deployed and kept on standby as a precautionary measure. Six teams have moved to Chennai.

In addition, six more teams have moved to Hindon airport. Airlift will be organized by the Air Force in case these teams need to be flown. (ANI)