Recent Emergency Messages for the New Delhi Consular District

This page contains the most recent messages from the U.S. government sent to American Citizens enrolled with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. If you are an American citizen and wish to receive these periodic messages directly, you can sign up here. It's a free service and allows you to receive updates in emergencies.

Archive of Previous Emergency Messages

Earthquake and Tsunami Alert for India

April 11, 2012

At about 2:30 p.m. an earthquake hit Chennai, Tamil Nadu. According to reports, an 8.7-8.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the cost of Northern Sumatra.

According to the Director of Disaster Management in Port Blair, there is a tsunami alert in affect for coastal India including Chennai  and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

SEA LEVEL READINGS CONFIRM THAT A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED WHICH COULD CAUSE WIDESPREAD DAMAGE. 

A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE FIRST WAVE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST. TSUNAMI WAVE HEIGHTS CANNOT BE PREDICTED AND CAN VARYSIGNIFICANTLY ALONG A COAST DUE TO LOCAL EFFECTS. THE TIME FROM  ONE TSUNAMI WAVE TO THE NEXT CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO AN HOUR, ANDTHE THREAT CAN CONTINUE FOR MANY HOURS AS MULTIPLE WAVES ARRIVE.   

DANGER TO BOATS AND COASTAL STRUCTURES CAN CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS DUE TO RAPID CURRENTS. AS LOCAL CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE A WIDE VARIATION IN TSUNAMI WAVE ACTION THE  ALL CLEAR DETERMINATION MUST BE MADE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES. ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES AT FORECAST POINTS WITHIN THE WARNING AND WATCH AREAS ARE GIVEN BELOW. ACTUAL ARRIVAL TIMES MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST.

We remind U.S. citizens to exercise prudence and continue to take active, personal responsibility for their security.  We strongly suggest that monitor news reports, and follow the instructions of Indonesian authorities.  U.S. citizens living and traveling in India are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and update their contact information with the U.S. Consulate Chennai.

Registration facilitates the U.S. Mission’s contact with U.S. citizens in emergencies.  Information on registering can be found at the U.S. Department of State’s Consular Affairs website at http://travelregistration.state.gov and at the Consulate’s website chennai.usconsulate.gov.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov/, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings and health-information resources can be found. 

Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

 U.S. citizens with questions or concerns may contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the Embassy or the Consulates General for further information:

·The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri 110021; telephone +91-11-2419-8000; fax +91-11-2419-8587.  For after-hours emergencies, please call the 24-hour operator at (+91-11) 2419-8000 and ask for American Citizen Services.

·The U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai (Bombay) is located at C-49, G-Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai 400051Phone: (22) 2672-4000.  For after-hours emergencies, please call the 24-hour operator at (+91-22) 2672-4000 and ask for American Citizens Services. If you are calling from within India, but outside Mumbai, first dial 022.

·The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai (Madras) is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600006, telephone +91-44-2857-4000; fax +91-44-2811-2027.  For after-hours emergencies, please call the 24-hour operator at (+91-44) 2857-4000 and ask for American Citizen Services. If you are calling from within India, but outside Chennai, first dial 044-.

·The U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata (Calcutta) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone +91-33-3984-2400; fax +91-33-2282-2335.  For after-hours emergencies, please call our primary hotline cell phone (91) 99030 42956.  If unable to reach the cell phone, please call (91) (33) 3984-2400 and dial "0" and ask for the Duty Officer.

·The U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad is at Paigah Palace, 1-8-323, Chiran Fort Lane, Begumpet, Secunderabad 500 003; telephone: +91 (40) 4033-8300. For after-hours emergencies, please call the 24-hour operator at (+91-40) 4033-8300 and ask for American Citizen Services. If you are calling from within India, but outside Hyderabad, first dial 040-.