Stuck in Iran, 70 seafarers without food, safety gear

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, March 28

As many as 70 seafarers, stuck in Iran, have sent an e-mail to the Indian Embassy in Tehran, seeking help.

“Seventy Indian seamen have been stuck here for the past over 45 days. Some are stranded at Khorramshahr Port, Kish, Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. We want to come back to India after a proper medical test. The situation here is not good and Covid cases are on the rise. We have completed our sign-off procedure. The owner and the crew have abandoned the ship, the e-mail stated.”

Gurjant Singh Gill of Makhu town under Zira sub-division of Ferozepur district said: “We are stranded at different ports of Iran, some are in Karun and others in Bushehr, Bandar Abbas and Kish. We don’t have food. There are no medicines or safety kits here. We only have masks to protect us from the virus.”

The seafarers had sent a series of tweets to the India Embassy and the Shipping Minister. Following which, the Director General (DG) of Shipping sought details of those stuck at different ports.

Capt Sanjay Parashar, chairman, International Maritime Federation, prepared a list containing the details of 70 seafarers stuck in Iran and sent it to the authorities concerned. Seafarer Anurag Kailash Chand from Thane in Maharashtra has sent an e-mail to the Indian Embassy, providing the details of those stranded. He said they had no food and that the ship was without power.

Anurag Chand told this correspondent on the phone: “We have requested the authorities to rescue us. We don’t have any safety equipment to protect us from this virus. Please help us.”

“We had our flight on April 4, which has been cancelled now.” another seafarer said.

Capt Parashar said, “Indian Embassy in Tehran has been putting in efforts to rescue the seafarers. It will happen after the lockdown is lifted.”

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.