Car Nicobar Residents Demands Sailing of a Ship to Transport Stranded Islanders

Tarun Karthick

Campbell Bay, 16 July 2021

Some residents of Car Nicobar today gathered in front of Tribal Council Building of Car Nicobar with placards and demanded a ship sailing for their Island to transport the stranded Islanders who are stuck in Port Blair from several months.

These residents were then sent to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar District by the authorities at the Tribal Council office. 

These residents reached the office of the Deputy Commissioner and demanded to meet the DC. As per sources, the Deputy Commissioner was preoccupied with some other works so the Assistant Commissioner (Headquarter) Mr. Aditya Kumar Jha, DANICS met with the residents and assured them that very soon a ship will sail for Car Nicobar from Port Blair.

There are hundreds of residents from Car Nicobar who are stuck in Port Blair for months and have been demanding to travel back to their homes. Further a lot of residents, Govt. Servants, Students etc. are also stuck in Car Nicobar and are waiting to travel to Port Blair and further to other Islands.

Recently a group of ITI students from Car Nicobar contacted Nicobar Times and informed us that their college was closed down in the month of April due to the sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in Andaman and Nicobar Islands along with the rest of the country. They further informed that they are stuck in Car Nicobar ever since and have not been able to travel back, because of the unavailability of a ship.

Upon further inquiry, these students informed that they are staying in the hostel of their college and have all the facilities, but all of them have become depressed because of not being able to travel back to their homes even when their college has been shut. Their college mates from other Islands of the Nicobar Group have reportedly been sent home, but three students from Hut Bay and nineteen students from Port Blair have been stuck and arrangements have not been made for them to travel back.

Some Govt. Servants who are posted in Car Nicobar also informed Nicobar Times that they have been intending to travel to Port Blair but no ship has been made available for them. 

Recently the stranded residents of Nancowry Group of Islands knocked on every door for help to travel back to their homes and finally the State Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Mr. Sanjay Kumar Singh came to their rescue and spoke to the Deputy Commissioner of Nicobar District, after which a ship was scheduled for them. 

Earlier a ship transported the stranded residents of Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar after the intervention of the political leaders. To arrange a ship for the stranded residents of Campbell Bay the State BJP leaders had to even speak to the then Minister of State for Home Affairs Mr. G Kishan Reddy.

The ship for Car Nicobar has not been scheduled yet, but the assurance of the Assistant Commissioner(HQ), Car Nicobar has raised hopes of the stranded residents.