Date:30/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/30/stories/2004123006361200.htm

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IA evacuates record number of people

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 29. Indian Airlines has evacuated a record 1,117 passengers from Port Blair on a single day today.

It operated 11 flights to and from Port Blair. Seven flights were operated from Kolkata and four from Chennai.

According to a press release, Indian Airlines will operate three flights to Port Blair tomorrow — two from Kolkata and one from Chennai — in view of a decrease in the demand for evacuation of passengers.

Indian Airlines has, since the day of the tragedy, operated 26 relief flights to Port Blair.

Regional Directors of Indian Airlines can be contacted for transportation of relief material on the following numbers: Northern region (Delhi): 25672800; Eastern region (Kolkata): 22116953; Southern region (Chennai): 22561070 and Western region (Mumbai): 26156788.

Special cells have also been set up to disseminate flight information. The telephone numbers of these are: Kolkata: 22116869 and 22110041; Chennai: 22560022; Delhi: 25674270 and 25672226; Mumbai: 26256986.