In article , dxAce
wrote:

NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 27, 2004--Here is an update on the current
situation in India, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Sri Lanka,
with thanks to The Daily DX, courtesy of its editor Bernie McClenny,
W3UR, and from Horey Majumdar, VU2HFR: News agencies now report
estimates of more than 21,000 feared dead from the tsunamis (tidal
waves) that took place in the Bay of Bengal December 26. The
estimated death toll in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands ranges from
2000 to 5000. VU2HFR reports that radio amateurs in India are
handling hundreds of pieces of health and welfare traffic regarding
people missing and from relatives of those living in Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, which are closer to the earthquake's epicenter.

"There is presently no communication from Nicobar Islands," Majumdar
reports, noting that Nicobar received more damage than Andaman.
McClenny says the VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition team continues to pass
traffic and occasionally hand out QSOs. C. K. "Ram" Raman, VU3DJQ,
reports he was in contact with Sarath, 4S7SW, a physician operating
from the vicinity of a hospital in Mathara, Sri Lanka, which also was
heavily hit by the tsunamis. "He is requesting food, clothing and
medicines for relief," Raman reported. "He will be listening 14.195
and 21.295." Telephones are not working there, he said.

McClenny and Majumdar agree that it was fortuitous that the
VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition was under way when the disaster struck. "If
there is a positive aspect to this disaster, it may very well be that
the Indian

government--and others--realize the ability of Amateur Radio during
these difficult times," McClenny observed.

The initial earthquake off the Indonesian Island of Sumatra just
before 0100 UTC on December 26 now has been upgraded to 9.0 on the
Richter scale. Since then, the National Earthquake Information Center
has reported some 18 aftershocks split between the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands. The most recent, just before 0100 UTC today,
registered 6.1 on the Richter scale.

Sandeep Baruah, VU2MUE, reports two emergency frequencies have been
established. VU4NRO, the team at Port Blair, will be QRV on or near
14.190 MHz. The club station VU2NRO in Hyderabad on the mainland will
relay traffic to and from Port Blair.

Other emergency traffic frequencies being reported include 14.193 and
14.160 MHz in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 7.050 MHz in South
India, 7.055 MHz in Indonesia and 7.075 in Thailand, where stations
from 4S7, VU2 and 9M2 were reportedly heard.

D.V.R.K. Murthy, VU2DVO,and Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, are now in Port
Blair. Reports indicate that some telephone lines are now working,
but there still is no water or electricity at the Hotel Sinclair,
where the VU4 DXpedition was headquartered.

In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the most devastated area is Car
Nicobar, which has been totally cut off. It is possible that Amateur
Radio operators may travel to this area after obtaining clearance
from local authorities. Club station VU2NCT and VU2MUE in Calcutta
all are helping with the efforts to pass emergency traffic to Port
Blair.

Baruah is operating club station VU2NCT in coordination with the
National Disaster Control, New Delhi. The Calcutta VHF Amateur Radio
Society has set up a control station from Calcutta. Majumdar is
operating that station and has been in touch with VU4RBI in the
Andamans.

Charly Harpole, K4VUD, who had been visiting the VU4RBI/VU4NRO
operation and filing regular reports via The Daily DX now is reported
back on the Indian mainland.

Majumdar also tells ARRL that hams from Bangalore and Chennai on the
Indian mainland are moving toward Nagapattinam to set up ham radio
disaster communication stations at Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu--the
worst-affected areas on the mainland. The Indian Army is assisting
stations on Andaman by providing logistics and backup batteries.

Majumdar says radio amateurs from Bangalore, Chennai and other parts
of South India are trying to set up stations in the affected areas of
Tamil Nadu.

James Brooks, 9V1YC, provided additional information via The Daily
DX. He says Andaman and Nicobar Islands authorities have asked the
DXpedition team for relief communications help. They have requested
one station at the deputy commissioner's office in Port Blair and
another on the remote Nicobar Islands. VU2RSB will be manning the
station at the deputy commissioner's office in Port Blair, and VU2RSI
will staff the station at the current DXpedition site until further
notice.

He reports the Indian Army will be flying VU2MYH and VU2DVO out to
the Nicobar Islands with three days' food, a rig, batteries and an
inverted V.

The VU4RBI/VU4NOR team was allowed back into the damaged hotel
building and Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI, "is bravely operating on the
fifth floor using the Yagi" despite continued aftershocks. Telephones
in the building are also working again.

Commercial power is returning slowly, but the DXpedition team
continues to use battery power most of the time.

The DXpedition has been suspended, but VU2RBI still is promising to
hand out the contacts once emergency communications work is finished.
The team has asked authorities for an extension of the DXpedition,
but so far this has not been granted. "This decision may change, due
to the relief communications work they are supplying," Brooks said.
Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI, will be leaving on January 1 regardless, he
reports, and if any time extension is granted VU2RSB and VU2MYH will
remain for an additional week, possibly longer.

Here in the US, the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network
(SATERN) has been monitoring HF frequencies for news and information
in an attempt to assist with emergency communications as
needed.--additional information from K2FF, VA3ORI and WA6KAH (Via
ARRL)

My neighbor left last week for Thailand. She was supposed to stick to
the northern area of the country. I sure hope she stuck to that plan and
did not head south to the normally beautiful southern coasts. Especially
the westward one.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/4126019.stm

--
Telamon
Ventura, California