Dogs have been pressed into service in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to sniff out victims buried under rubble, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Navin Chawla said in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The dogs may also help in tracing those who have fled deep into jungles to escape the tsunami, he said.
The Centre has also announced the appointment of R Bhattacharya, an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1978 batch from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, as officer on special duty in the Ministry of Home Affairs. He will look after the work relating to reconstruction, infrastructure and housing in the islands.
Chawla said that the number of dead has risen to 9,675; 6,107 people are missing.
As per the home ministry's status report, the airport at Car Nicobar, whose tarmac had developed cracks on Tuesday, has been set right by army personnel and the Indian Air Force is able to continue its sorties to the island.
The helipad at Katchal Island is also operational, it said, and added that efforts are on to clear the road between Little Andamans and Hut Bay.
Out of the 38 inhabited islands, 30 have been affected and a survey of all the islands has been completed.
Islands in Nicobar with small population like Bamboka, Chowra, Little Nicobar, Pilo Millow, Trinket and Tilanchang have been completely evacuated.
Disaster management teams have been constituted in 12 islands.
All the affected islands have been provided with satellite phones.
Three jetties -- one each at Car Nicobar, Nancowry (Kamorta) and Nancowry (Champin) are fit for operation.
The Centre is also focussing on preventing outbreak of epidemics.
