Tragic, nearly 40,000 Indian crew members across the world are unable to reach home

NEWS24.CO.ID -  Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are many cruise ships across the world that still stranded. As result, tens of thousands of Indian crew members are still waiting to be brought home.

As said by Anand Kumar, one of the Indian crew members on MSC Divina cruise ship anchored near the port of Miami in the United States, he said that their goverment has abandoned them.

"The Indian government has abandoned all of us in the sea. We are willing to come back and stay in quarantine in India, but at least bring us back to our country." told his as cited from Al Jazeera.

Kumar also said the Indian crew members had been trying to reach out to the Indian embassy in Washington, DC, and consulate in Atlanta, but they simply say there is no update from the Indian government.

As information, India's Maritime Association of Shipowners, Shipmanagers and Agents (MASSA) estimates the number of stranded Indian crew members to be approximately 40,000.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown on March 24 to check the spread of coronavirus, giving less than four hours notice before the order took effect.

Since the lockdown included cancellation of all international flights, the crew members could not fly home.

NEWS24.CO.ID/DEV