The joint medical relief team of the Medical Service Centre and the Breakthrough Science Society (with assistance from AID) reached Port Blair on 15.01.05 at 10.30 AM. They initially surveyed the affected area after consulting the local MP Mr. Manoranjan Bhakta. On the same day they went to two Tsunami victims' camps near Portblair town. Three local clubs, namely the "Atul Smriti Samiti", the "Govt. Employee's Federation", and the "Vanvikas Emplyees association" assisted them. These two camps are:
1. Govt. Senior Secondary School, Bathu Basthi, Garacharma
2. Govt. Senior Secondary School, School line, Portblair.
The team offered medical relief to 65 Tsunami victims. Most of these victims were from different islands of Nicobar such as Car Nicobar, Cambell bey, Indira Point etc.

On the next day (16.01.05) the team attended six camps at Chouldari, Loknath Pahard, Lal Pahard, Bharat sevashram sangha, Sippi Ghat, Hasmatabad, Wandoor and treated 193 patients.

One scientist accompanying the team on behalf of the BSS, Dr. Makhanlal Nanda Goswami of IIT Kharagpur, was entrusted with the job of making scientific survey of the environmental change due to the Tsunami. With the help of a local person (Mr. Sanjit Das from Chouldari) he went to the affected areas. He has reported the following observations:
1. In the Port blair Island, the sea level has gone up by 4/5 ft.
2. Deep sea flora and fauna are not greatly affected near Portblair Island.
3. Most of the paddy fields (90%) are flooded by salt water. Agricultural fields near sea shore have been completely damaged due to saltwater intrusion. That will have adverse effect on the peoples' livelihood.
4. Villages behind Mangrove have not been affected much.
5. Fruits of Mangrove trees have been damaged due to the massive impulsive force of the Tsunami. In future, the loss of seed may destroy the Mangrove forest.
6. Soil erosion has started due to the breakdown of the waterfront dam in the earthquake and in the waves of Tsunami.
7. At Chouldari, Dr. Goswami met Mr. Niranjan Biswas, Soil Conservation Specialist, Dept. of Agriculture, Nicobar District. Mr. Biswas opined that even if salt water is drained out of the fields, they will still remain unproductive for 3/4 years.

On the third day (17.01.05), the medical relief team went to a camp at the Govt. Senior Secondary School, Haddo, where victims came from Hutbey, Little Andaman -- a badly effected area. In the afternoon they went to an island called "Hope town" via Bamboo Flat by boat. There they treated 180 number of victims and distributed medicine among the people.

On 18.01.05, doctors of the medical team went to Wandoor and North Wandoor. They treated 192 Tsunami Victims and distributed medicines.

The doctors of the Medical Service Centre observed that more than 50% of the patients examined are suffering from psychological trauma and are panic-stricken at the possibility of future earthquakes. They are also suffering from anxiety because the Govt. of the Union Territory has not given any assurance about their future rehabilitation.


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