MUMBAI: Around 650 Indian crew, stuck on board Marella Explorer, a cruise ship in Southampton in United Kingdom, for three months, appealed to Indian government to bring them back. Holding placards that read 'Frustrated and depressed,' the crew appealed to the government to repatriate them.
They have been unable to return as international flights to and from India were suspended following lockdown. The crew have been stuck on empty vessels since the cruise liner suspended operations. Indian government has been running flights under Vande Bharat Mission.
In a video that has gone viral, Rajesh Gawde, said, "Namaste India. I am an Indian speaking from Marella Explorer. As you can see, all Indians are protesting against Indian government and high commission of UK. Their banners are reflecting their emotions... We're protesting as we're on this ship for three months. We spent 45 days in isolation. Our company, Marella & Apollo, has taken good care of us, and has tried hard to send us home through chartered flights, but we don't know what's going on."
He said thrice they were given dates to fly back, but had to cancel flights due to change in documentation requirements by high commission at the last minute.
Crew have lost their father, mother or brother, or in some cases, the son is ill, he said in the video.
"I want to come home. I'm missing my family, particularly my son, who is two-years-old," Gawde, who lives in Dahisar, told TOI on Friday. Now, they have been given a fresh date of June 14 for their flight back to India, he said.
Gawde's cousin Ajinkya Naik, a member of Mumbai Cricket Association's apex council, tweeted about their plight on Friday.
Nalasopara MLA Kshitij Thakur wrote to CMO and external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar as many crew are from Vasai.
They have been unable to return as international flights to and from India were suspended following lockdown. The crew have been stuck on empty vessels since the cruise liner suspended operations. Indian government has been running flights under Vande Bharat Mission.
In a video that has gone viral, Rajesh Gawde, said, "Namaste India. I am an Indian speaking from Marella Explorer. As you can see, all Indians are protesting against Indian government and high commission of UK. Their banners are reflecting their emotions... We're protesting as we're on this ship for three months. We spent 45 days in isolation. Our company, Marella & Apollo, has taken good care of us, and has tried hard to send us home through chartered flights, but we don't know what's going on."
He said thrice they were given dates to fly back, but had to cancel flights due to change in documentation requirements by high commission at the last minute.
Crew have lost their father, mother or brother, or in some cases, the son is ill, he said in the video.
"I want to come home. I'm missing my family, particularly my son, who is two-years-old," Gawde, who lives in Dahisar, told TOI on Friday. Now, they have been given a fresh date of June 14 for their flight back to India, he said.
Gawde's cousin Ajinkya Naik, a member of Mumbai Cricket Association's apex council, tweeted about their plight on Friday.
Nalasopara MLA Kshitij Thakur wrote to CMO and external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar as many crew are from Vasai.
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Get the app