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Port Blair, Dec. 16: An engine dinghy carrying passengers on board today capsized at Dhani Nallah, Betapur No. II in the Middle Andaman. The accident took place today in the afternoon hours when the dinghy plying in between Kutbert Bay and Betapur with 25 people, including men, women and children overturned.
According to sources, out of the 25, 19 managed to reach the shore, while 6 had gone missing. Among the six are 2 males, 2 females and 2 children.
Soon after receiving the information, the Indian Coast Guard Helicopter was pressed into action to locate the bodies. As a result the bodies of three including a male, a female and a child were traced and airlifted. The search for the remaining three feared dead is on.
Meanwhile sources inform that the Coast Guard rescue team has been joined by the Police team of PS Billiground. To supervise the Search and Rescue Operation, the Dy. Superintendent of Police, Diglipur and Asst. Commissioner had reached the spot. They were later joined by the Deputy Commissioner, N&M Andaman.
All the 19 persons who cheated death have been shifted to Primary Health Centre, Billiground for first aid and treatment. The bodies of the three recovered have also been shifted to the mortuary of PHC Billiground.
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Port Blair, Dec 15: The A&N Islands due to its geographical isolation has many constraints. One the major constraint is availability of good quality telecom service between Island and mainland and between different Islands. At present the telecom connectivity provided by the Telecom Service Providers is through Satellite medium. Due to limited availability of satellite bandwidth the quality of telecom services has been found unsatisfactory. The A & N Administration therefore took up with Government of India in 2002 for laying undersea optical fiber cable between Mainland and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In a press release received here, the Special Secretary, IT has intimated that the proposal was followed up with Government of India at highest level. The Planning Commission, Government of India has accorded in-principle approval for the project of laying undersea optical fiber cable by taking a branch from the existing optical fiber cable laid between mainland India and South East Asia and connecting six islands viz. Port Blair, Havelock, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Kamorta and Campbell Bay in a ring configuration.
As per Financial Rules, approval of Government of India (Expenditure Finance Committee) is required to implement the project, since the total project cost exceeds Rs 200 crore. Therefore a comprehensive proposal was sent to Department of Telecommunication, Ministry of Communication & IT, Govt of India for obtaining approval of Expenditure Finance Committee. The Department of Telecommunication, Ministry of Communication & IT, GoI forwarded observations raised by different line Ministries. Replies to observation raised by line ministries along with a comprehensive proposal with related papers, documents have been sent to Department of Telecommunication, Ministry of Communication & IT, GoI, in August, 2013.
The proposal is being followed up at highest level by A & N Administration for early approval of GoI. Once the proposal is approved by Government of India, A & N Administration will take further necessary action to implement the project by awarding the work to a firm to be selected after due bid process management. As per international practice, implementation of such a project would take 2 years time for its completion from the date of signing of contract, the release added.
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Administration is committed to upgrade sports facilities in isles, Says LG
Port Blair, Dec.12: The Administration is making best efforts to upgrade the sports facilities to ensure that sports in these Islands develop further, said the Lt. Governor, Lt. General (Retd) A K Singh, while speaking at the closing ceremony of the 17th State School Games held at the Netaji Stadium here today.
The Lt. Governor said that sport is an important discipline and education is incomplete without sports and asked the students to take up sports with true sportsmanship. The Lt. Governor complimented the Education Department for the successful conduct of the event with large participation of the students despite the rains. He also had a word of praise for the teachers and students for their hard work to make this event a grand success.
The Lt. Governor showered praises for the budding and young sportspersons from these Islands for their medal winning performance in cycling, canoeing and rowing events in the National & International Level Championships. The Lt. Governor witnessed some of the final athletic events and also distributed prizes to the winners of various sport discipline conducted during the four-day School Games.
An immaculate cultural programme presented by the students of different schools in and around the town marked the closing of the School Games. The presentation of Karen dance which also included some skilful acrobatics in between by the boy students of Mayabunder Zone stole the show at the closing ceremony.
Port Blair zone remained overall champions of School Games with 19 gold, 14 silver and 5 bronze followed by Car Nicobar with 9 gold, 8 silver and 5 bronze in second position while Nancowrie stood third with 8 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze.
In her welcome address, the Principal Secretary Education, Smt. Rina Ray said that altogether 874 students, including Children With Special Needs (CWSN) from various schools have participated in School Games, which provided an opportunity to the students to showcase their talent in the field of sports. The Secretary-cum- Director Education, Shri DN Singh proposed the vote of thanks on the occasion.