There has been a total breakdown of communication links with Nicobar Islands and Campbell Bay, which were the nearest Indian islands to the epicentre of the earthquake whose after-shocks devastated much of India's [ Images ] coastal region.

The Nicobar Islands, which are about 115 nautical miles from Sumatra in Indonesia, and Campbell Bay, which is just 25 nautical miles from the Indonesian coast, have suffered extensive damage, according to a defence ministry official.

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"There has been complete breakdown of communication links with these islands and efforts are being made to make an aerial survey," the official said. The armed forces headquarters have been unable to re-establish the links.

Campbell Bay has a small inter-services detachment but no civilian population and efforts are being made to ascertain whether there was any casualty.

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Car Nicobar Islands had been lashed by giant waves with a large part of the civilian area completely inundated. A small landing strip on the island was completely water logged.