Tribals safe, govt team back

The tsunami death toll might not have been as astronomical as it was thought to be in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands8212;the numbers have ...

The tsunami death toll might not have been as astronomical as it was thought to be in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands8212;the numbers have begun to decrease as dramatically as it climbed.

Officially, Lt Governor Ram Kapse declared today that 400 bodies have been found so far, which have already been buried or cremated. The number of missing now varies between 3,000 and 5,000. But the underlying tenor of this claim too was that a section of those still missing might actually have survived the disaster and could be traced.

Evidently, the authorities are getting closer to the real ground situation as communication links are gradually being restored and government officials are fanning out to islands that were cut off after days of shock.

Ajay Chugta, an additional district magistrate of Port Blair, and his staff have returned from Hutt Bay after physically verifying a fairly large portion of the island8217;s uninhabited areas. 8216;8216;How come such astronomical death figures were being quoted all these days?8217;8217; asks Chugta.

Government officials have visited five areas in the island and taken a head count. In one area, where casualties were estimated to be anything between 1,000 and 1,500, the number of actual deaths was found to be 50-60. When Lt Governor Kapse was questioned about the figures swinging so dramatically, he avoided a direct answer.

Meanwhile, a Coast Guard unit was especially deputed for the last two days to make a reassessment of islands inhabited by exotic Andamanese tribes. Director General of Coast Guard, Vice Admiral A K Singh, who personally monitored the mission, said today that the Jarawas in middle and south Andamans are absolutely safe. According to the 2001 Census, there are about 240 Jarawas living in a couple of these islands.

The team also surveyed the Sentinalese islands and members of the tribe8212;they number about 398212;were sighted on the beach. 8216;8216;There are very much there,8217;8217; said Vice Admiral Singh.

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A ship was sent to Hut Bay to check on the Onges, who number about 96-100. Shompens, about 398, who are located in the Great Nicobar islands, have also been reached, said Vice Admiral Singh. No harm has been caused to the Great Andamanese too as well, said Lt Governor.