1.
LV TRAIN INTO TEZPUR STATION
0.04

2.
SV SIGN "TEZPUR"
0.06

3.
TRAVEL SHOT..TRAIN TOWARDS, PEOPLE LEAN OUT
0.11

4.
CU BV..PEOPLE BOARD TRAIN WITH BAGGAGE
0.15

5.
CU TWO MEN OUT CASE INTO TRAIN
0.19

6.
SV PEOPLE ON PLATFORM WITH BAGGAGE
0.23

7.
LV PEOPLE QUEUE FOR TICKETS
0.27

8.
CU PEOPLE BUY TICKETS
0.30

9.
LV PEOPLE PUT BAGGAGE ABOARD TRUCK
0.35

10.
CU MEN PUT BEDDING ON TRUCK
0.40

11.
SV WOMEN AND CHILDREN WALK TOWARDS TRUCK
0.44

12.
SV WOMEN & CHILDREN BOARD TRUCK
0.49

13.
LV BUS WITH EVACUEES PASSING
0.54

14.
CU MAN ON BENCH WAITS TO BOARD
0.56

15.
SV WOMAN WITH TWO CHILDREN ON BEACH WAVING
0.59

16.
LV PEOPLE BOARD FERRY WITH BAGGAGE
1.04

17.
SV PAN..PEOPLE
1.08

18.
LV FAMILIES WAITING
1.11

19.
SV WOMAN CARRIES CHILD
1.17

20.
CU WOMAN CARRIES BABY
1.19

21.
GV PEOPLE BOARD FERRY
1.23

22.
GTV PEOPLE ON BANKS OF BRAHMAPUTRA
1.27

23.
LV DITTO
1.31

24.
TV FAMILY PUT BELONGINGS INTO SMALL BOAT
1.34

25.
STV DITTO
1.37

26.
SV REFUGEES WAITING
1.41

27.
SV MAN PUSHES OFF BOAT
1.45

28.
LV BOAT TURNS IN RIVER
1.48

29.
GTV PEOPLE BOARD BUSES IN TEZPUR
1.53

30.
SV MAN LOADS BAGGAGE ON BUS
1.56

31.
SV WOMEN AND CHILDREN WAIT WITH BELONGINGS
1.59

32.
LV PEOPLE BOARD BUSES
2.03

33.
GV PAN..CROWDED STREET, PEOPLE BOARD BUSES
2.08



Initials KC/V/JH/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ONLY ABOUT SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE - A THIRD OF THE POPULATION - REMAIN IN TEZPUR TODAY (THURSDAY) FOLLOWING THE MASS EVACUATION IN FACE OF THE RECENT CHINESE ADVANCES ON INDIA'S NORTH EAST FRONTIER.

THE EVACUATION CONTINUED UNABATED EVEN AFTER THE CHINESE CEASE-FIRE OFFER WAS ANNOUNCED. TEZPUR IS LEFT ALMOST DESERTED ITS SHOPS CLOSED, THE RICE MILL STATIONARY, AND CATTLE WANDERING THROUGH THE MAIN STREETS.

TEZPUR BECAME DIRECTLY THREATENED BY THE CHINESE FORCES ALMOST OVERNIGHT AS INDIAN FORCES SUFFERED SEVERE REVERSES AT THE FRONT AND AS THE CHINESE BROKE THROUGH THE LAST MAJOR LINE OF DEFENCE BEFORE REACHING THE IMPORTANT CENTRE OF TEZPUR.

THE CHINESE FORCES - BELIEVED TO BE UP TO 50,000 STRONG HAD COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED THE INDIAN DEFENCES AND SWEPT DOWN, CAPTURING BOMDILA, AND ADVANCING TO WITHIN 20 MILES OF TEZPUR BEFORE THE CEASE-FIRE WAS ANNOUNCED.

BY TUESDAY, THE EVACUATION HAD REACHED ITS PEAK. ALMOST EVERYONE WHO COULD LEAVE, CROWDED ABOARD THE TRAINS, BUSES, FERRIES AND EVEN SMALL CANOE-LIKE CRAFT TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO SAFER REGIONS.

MOST HAD TO LEAVE ALMOST EVERYTHING THEY POSSESSED. SOME TOOK BEDDING - BUT PRECIOUS LITTLE ELSE. THE SUDDEN TURN OF EVENTS HAD SHOCKED EVERYONE.