Tribe Shoots Arrows At Aid Flight

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Tribe shoots arrows at aid flight: 

The island group is home to a number of tribal peoples

By Jonathan Charles
BBC News, Andaman Islands

An Indian helicopter dropping food and water over the
remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been attacked
by tribesmen using bows and arrows.

There were fears that the endangered tribal groups had
been wiped out when massive waves struck their islands.

But the authorities say the attack is a sign that they have
survived.

More than 6,000 people there are confirmed as either
dead or missing, but thousands of others are still
unaccounted for.

The Indian coastguard helicopter was flying low over
Sentinel Island to drop aid when it came under attack.

A senior police officer said the crew were not hurt and
the authorities are taking it as a sign that the tribes have
not been wiped out by the earthquake and sea surges as
many had feared.

The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago is home to
several tribes, some extremely isolated.

Officials believe they survived the devastation by using
age-old early warning systems.

They might have run to high ground for safety after
noticing changes in the behaviour of birds and marine
wildlife.

Scientists are examining the possibility to see whether
it can be used to predict earth tremors in future.