Embassy providing aid to stranded Indians in Iran: Centre to HC

Madurai: The Centre on Thursday informed the Madras high court that the Indian Embassy in Iran is taking all necessary steps to provide assistance to the Indians stranded in Iran.The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by L Ruth Baby Thason, a resident of Kadiyapattanam village in Kanyakumari district. The petitioner stated that her husband, Leo Babu, is presently working on a fishing vessel in Iran and is unable to return to India due to the present crisis. She stated that nearly 600 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu, particularly from Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, were currently stranded in Iran.The fishermen travelled to Iran solely for the purpose of earning their livelihood through fishing activities. Due to the conflict situation in West Asia, fishing activities completely stopped, and the fishermen are stranded without employment, income, or adequate facilities for food and shelter. The families of the fishermen in Tamil Nadu are undergoing severe mental agony and financial hardship, as most of the stranded fishermen are the sole breadwinners of their families.Hence, the petitioner moved court seeking a direction to the Centre and the state to take immediate diplomatic and administrative measures to ensure the safety, protection, rescue, and evacuation of the fishermen.The Centre submitted that after Iran closed the airports and ports, the Indian Embassy in Iran is taking all necessary steps to render assistance to the Indians stranded there. Helpline numbers and email IDs are circulated. The central govt is closely monitoring the situation, and steps would be taken to rescue the stranded fishermen after normalcy returns.A division bench of justice N Sathish Kumar and justice M Jothiraman then directed the stranded fishermen to contact the Indian Embassy for necessary assistance. The petition was disposed of.