Page 2 - Andaman And Nicobar Islands

Ambassadors blow conch shells at Andaman; India G20 presidency begins Dec 1

As India is set to assume the G20 presidency on December 1, the ambassadors and heads of missions of G20 nations on November 26 blew conch shells at the Swaraj Dweep in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Amitabh Kant, the G20 Sherpa of India, shared the video of G20 ambassadors blowing the conch shell in the Andamans on Twitter.While sharing the video on the microblogging site, Amitabh Kant said, "Embarking on our G20 Presidency with the auspicious "Shankhnaad". Blowing the Conch Shell with Ambassadors & Heads of Missions of G20 countries at the Swaraj Dweep in the Andamans."A special briefing of the resident heads of international organizations was held at Swaraj Dweep in Andaman Nicobar Islands on Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release. More than 40 missions and International Organizations participated in the program.A detailed briefing was given by the G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant and Harsh Shringla, the Chief Coordinator of the G20 Summit which is .

Special briefing for G20 envoys, invitee nations held in Andaman - Nicobar

Ahead of India assuming the G20 Presidency, a special briefing of the Resident Heads of Missions of the G20 member countries, invited guest countries and International Organizations was held

Andaman's Swaraj Dweep decked up for G20 Presidency meeting today

Swaraj Dweep, popularly known as Havelock Island, in Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been decked up to host one of the much-awaited meetings of the G20 Presidency which will be held on Saturday afternoon. Spread over an area of 92.2 sq km and having a population of 5,500, Swaraj Dweep is two-and-half-hour by sea journey from Port Blair in government ferries and private cruises. As Swaraj Dweep is known for its pristine beaches, G20 India coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant organised a yoga session on Kala Patthar beach on Saturday morning for around 40 delegates from various countries. The beach is nearly 13 km from the private hotel where they are staying. The delegates, including British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis, Russian ambassador Denis Alipov, German envoy Dr P Ackermann, Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell and others reached the island around 7.30 pm on Friday after a tour of Cellular Jail in Port Blair, a senior offici

Andaman & Nicobar islands may face squalls, heavy rains on Nov 15-16

The Directorate of Disaster Management has issued heavy rainfall warning in some places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on November 15-16. All the floating, aviation and ashore units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the Navy were mobilised and put on high alert, it said, adding that these assets have been deployed in Andaman sea. Though the alert has been issued for the next five days from Sunday but on November 15 and 16, the rainfall likely to create havoc in some parts of the archipelago including, Port Blair, Campbell Bay, Kamorta and Diglipur, the department said. "Due to squally weather, wind speed exceeding 45 kmph is likely to prevail over Andaman Sea. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea in coming few days," a statement issued by the Directorate of Disaster Management said. Meanwhile, tourists were asked to stay indoor and requested not to venture into sea for adventure sports at Corbyn's Cove, Swaraj, Elephanta, Collin

India's groundwater extraction stage at 60% in 2022, says report

In 2022, around 87 per cent of the total annual ground water extracted that is around 208.49 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) was for irrigation which in 2020 was around 89 per cent

Andaman gang rape case: SIT questions ex-chief secy for third day

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Andaman and Nicobar Police for the third day on Monday grilled former chief secretary Jitendra Narain in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 21-year-old woman, officials said. Members of the BJP's women wing Mahila Morcha staged protests, holding black flags and placards, at the main and rear entrances of Police Lines, where Narain is being questioned, and raised slogans against the former chief secretary. The police, however, took Narain through the main entrance of the Police Lines before protesters gathered and is questioning him since 10 AM. Narain was grilled on two days Friday and Saturday while a homestay in Port Blair was raided on Sunday in connection with the probe. Sampa Banerjee, the BJP Mahila Morcha president of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, said, "We are protesting such acts by senior bureaucrats in the islands. This is our fight to protect the dignity and respect of our local women." "If found guilty, we demand stern ac

Ex-Andaman CS grilled for second day over alleged gangrape charge

Former chief secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Jitendra Narain was on Saturday grilled for the second consecutive day in connection with the alleged gangrape of a 21-year-old woman, an official said. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Andaman and Nicobar Police started questioning the senior official around 11 AM at Police Lines in Port Blair. The interrogation was underway for more than six hours. Narain was brought inside the Police Lines premises through a rear gate to avoid protesters. The practice was followed on Friday as well as agitators carrying placards staged a protest at the main gate. The SIT, headed by senior IPS officer Monika Bhardwaj of the Andaman and Nicobar Police, had questioned Narain for over eight hours on Friday. The investigation team was constituted to probe allegations that the woman was lured to the chief secretary's residence with the promise of a government job and then raped by top officials including Narain. Labour Commissioner R L R

Ex-Andaman chief secretary to appear before SIT over gangrape charges

Former chief secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Jitendra Narain arrived in Port Blair on Thursday, following a Calcutta High Court order to appear before a Special Investigation Team, which is probing alleged gangrape charges against him, by October 28. Narain was escorted out of the airport amid heavy security cover, officials said. He did not respond to questions from mediapersons, who were waiting for his arrival at the airport. A vacation bench comprising justices Bibek Chaudhuri and Prasenjit Biswas also granted interim protection against arrest to Narain till a date that will be fixed by the circuit bench of the Calcutta High Court in Port Blair on November 14, on its first date of sitting after the Durga Puja vacation. The court also noted that Narain, who was transferred to Delhi on July 21, has declared that he is ready and willing to cooperate with the investigation. The SIT is probing an allegation by a woman that she was gangraped by Narain and others on April 14

SIT to investigate gang-rape charge against senior officials in Andaman

A Special Investigating Team has been constituted to probe allegations of a 21-year-old woman in Andaman and Nicobar Islands that she was gang-raped by officials there including a former chief secretary. The police registered a case earlier this month on the complaint filed by the woman alleging that she was sexually abused by Narain, a 1990 batch IAS officer, and Labour commissioner R L Rishi at the latter's official residence on two occasions. The Aberdeen police station registered the case and a Special Investigating Team headed by a Senior Superintendent of Police was formed to probe the serious allegation against Narain, who is at present posted as the chairman and managing director of the Delhi Financial Corporation. When contacted, Narain told PTI that he can not comment on the issue as the matter is sub judice. The woman lodged the complaint with the police on August 21 in which she gave a detailed account of the alleged sexual attack on her twice - in April and May - and .

4.5-magnitude earthquake hits Diglipur of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 on the Richter scale was recorded 150 km north of Diglipur in Andaman and Nicobar island, National Center for Seismology said on Wednesday.The earthquake occurred at 5:43 pm."Earthquake of Magnitude:4.5, occurred on September 28, 2022, 17:43:36 IST, Lat: 14.61 & Long: 93.11, Depth: 10 Km, Location: 150km N of Diglipur, Andaman and Nicobar island, India," National Center for Seismology said.

8 new cases of Covid-19 reported in Andaman, active case tally at 32

Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported eight new COVID-19 cases, taking its tally to 10,533, as per a health bulletin issued on Friday. There are 32 active cases in the Union Territory at present, it said. In the last 24 hours, one person recovered from the disease, following which the total recoveries rose to 10,379. The toll remained at 129 with no deaths reported in the last 24 hours.

Assam to send 1,000 students to Andaman & Nicobar to study Cellular jail

The Assam government would send 1,000 students from the state as a study tour to Cellular jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

12 new Covid-19 cases reported in Andamans; infection tally rises to 10,320

The Covid-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 10,320 on Monday as 12 more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said

Andamans report six new Covid-19 infections; case tally rises to 10,224

The Covid-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 10,224 on Saturday as six more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said

Six new Covid-19 infections logged in Andamans; active case tally at 10,218

The Covid-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 10,218 on Friday as six more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said

Andaman and Nicobar logs 8 new Covid-19 cases, infection tally at 10,157

The Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported eight new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, four less than the previous day, pushing the tally to 10,157, a health department official said

Andaman and Nicobar reports 5 new Covid-19 cases, tally at 10,119

Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported five fresh Covid-19 cases, pushing the tally in the Union territory to 10,119, a health department official said on Saturday

Southwest monsoon debuts over Andaman and Nicobar Islands, says IMD

Southwest monsoon has advanced into the Andaman and Nicobar islands on Monday, the India Meteorological Department said here, signalling the start of the four-month seasonal rains that are crucial to the largely agri-dependent economy. The Andaman and Nicobar islands and adjoining areas have been experiencing rainfall due to strengthening south-westerly winds in the lower tropospheric levels, the weather office said. "Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of south Bay of Bengal, entire Andaman Sea & Andaman Islands and some parts of east-central Bay of Bengal during next 2-3 days, the IMD said in a statement here. The presence of cyclonic circulations over Lakshadweep and north Tamil Nadu coast are expected to bring fairly widespread rainfall with isolated thunderstorm/ lightning/gusty winds with isolated heavy to very heavy falls over Kerala, Coastal & South Interior Karnataka during the next five days, it said. The weather ...

Asani expected to move northwest till May 10; rain likely in coastal Odisha

Fishermen are advised not to venture into the deep sea area over the central parts of the Bay of Bengal on May 9-10 and over Northwest Bay of Bengal from May 10-12, as per the weather department

Cyclone Asani intensifies in Bay of Bengal, unlikely to make landfall

Under the influence of the cyclone, northern Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts are expected to experience heavy winds and rains from Tuesday, the weather office said