Tarun Karthick & Rohit Kumar
Campbell Bay & Port Blair, 20 June 2021
Residents of Campbell Bay who are stranded in South Andaman District due to unavailability of passenger vessels are in a miserable state. These stranded Islanders have not received any help from Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
The last vessel from Port Blair to Campbell Bay sailed on 3rd of May 2021 and these stranded Islanders are stuck there in Port Blair and nearby areas ever-since then. Among them are students, medical patients, senior citizens etc. they are struggling to arrange two square meals for themselves and members of their family who are stuck with them.
Many of these stranded Islanders are living with their relatives. These Islanders are now feeling that they are becoming burden on their relatives and friends. Some of the stranded Islanders are also living in lodges and hotels and they are facing problems because they are unable to pay for their accommodation.
Some stranded islanders have also taken accommodations on rent but they are unable to cook properly because they do not have all the amenities.
It is becoming increasingly difficult for these stranded islanders to live comfortably.
Parents of the girl students who are living in Port Blair alone in rented accommodations are worried about their safety. It has been months since these people are stuck there and the Administration is neither helping them there nor arranging ship for them to travel back to Campbell Bay.
Earlier, Nicobar Times had published a news regarding residents of Campbell Bay advocating against immediate sailing of passenger vessel and that news was based on the views of residents (sample size of 50-60) who we had asked the question at Campbell Bay. The same residents who were earlier advocating against the sailing of any ships immediately for Campbell Bay have now changed their stance after they have come to know of the problems of the stranded residents.
The problems of these stranded Islanders are genuine and needs immediate attention of Andaman and Nicobar Administration. It has been more than 1.5 months that these residents are facing these problems. Time and again the political parties have raised these issues in front of the Administration but nothing has been done so far to help them.
It’s high time that Andaman and Nicobar Administration considers helping these stranded Islanders of Campbell Bay by arranging for a sailing of ship for them to reach back to their homes.
Andaman and Nicobar Administration should further ensure that proper measures are taken so that if any of the stranded Islander is infected and reaches Campbell Bay, the infection should not spread locally.
Most of the stranded Islanders who spoke to Nicobar Times were ready to undergo any kind of quarantine at Campbell Bay as specified by the Administration, they just want to travel back to their homes.
Considering the plight of these stranded Islanders it is very important to immediately schedule sailing of a ship from Port Blair to Campbell Bay.