Rescue operations continue at Havelock Island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 300 tourists evacuated

As 800 tourists remain stranded at Havelock Island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to heavy rains and a storm, Indian Air Force on Friday announced that seventeen people have been rescued in the first shuttle.

Port Blair: Around 300 out of the 1,400 tourists who were stranded at Havelock Island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to heavy rains and a storm, were rescued on Friday.

The Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Union Territory administration have jointly undertaken a major evacuation drive.

85 tourists were rescued in three choppers of the Indian Air force in four air shuttles as the weather gradually improved today.

The Indian Coast Guard ships have also reached Havelock Island and evacuation of stranded tourists is in progress.

Four ships of the Indian Navy and two Indian Coast Guard ships have been deployed to evacuate about 800 tourists from Havelock Island.

The four ships of the Navy are -- INS Bitra, Bangaram, Kumbhir and LCU 38 -- for the evacuation.

Havelock is the largest in the chain of islands that form the Ritchie's Archipelago and belongs to the Andamans.

Located about 40 km from here, Havelock and Neil islands are the most popular tourist attractions of Andamans, and the worst affected.