Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 9 Apr 2021
M.V Bharat Seema a 1973 built Ro-Ro/Passenger Ship which serves the population of Andaman and Nicobar Island is currently docked at Mumbai Port. Mr. Yadav Rao a resident of Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands was one of the crew onboard the ship.
Mr. Yadav Rao was complaining of fever, body pain and cold from the last 20-25 days. Since the Shipping Company was not issuing Medical Passes his treatment was delayed. However on 2nd of April 2021 Mr. Rao was sent to the hospital where no COVID-19 test was conducted on him.
On 8th of April 2021 Mr. Rao developed breathing problems and an Ambulance was called to shift him to the hospital but since the Ambulance got delayed it was decided to shift him to the hospital by the car of the Shipping Agent at around 1500 Hrs.
It is also being reported from unconfirmed sources that two hospitals refused to treat Mr. Rao before a third hospital accepted and as per the medical records (which shows the time of examination as 4:40 Pm) the doctor declared him brought dead.
Several questions are being raised on the Captain of M.V Bharat Seema Capt. Anand Gopal by fellow seafarers. Many are also blaming the death of Mr. Rao on the inaction of the Captain.
Nicobar Times spoke to several seafarers who were of the opinion that the Captain should be immediately removed from his position and stringent action such as cancellation of his CDC and filing an FIR against him should be taken.
The crew of M.V Bharat Seema have written a letter to the Master demanding a doctor on the ship to treat the COVID-19 positive patients. The Crew in their letter have specifically mentioned that some of them are facing health issues. Further they also added that COVID-19 positive crew members are also staying on the ship with everyone else and a doctor is needed immediately to treat them since there are many crew members whose condition is serious.
It is not yet known whether Mr. Rao passed away due to COVID-19 but the records show that he had all the symptoms of a COVID-19 positive patient.