Indian crew members stranded in Basra

[Robbien]

DUBAI: Thirteen Indian crew members of a cargo vessel are stranded in the Iraqi port of Basra since a month after an explosion hit their vessel leaving one compatriot dead.

The vessel Al Aber, which left Sharjah Creek on June 4 for Basra port, was hit by an explosion at Abu Fulus port on June 16, one of the injured crew members Deepak said. "We didn't know whether it was a terrorist attack or what happened. But our compatriot, Imam Hussien, was killed and six of us injured," he was quoted as saying by the Khaleej Times.

. . .

"We are in trouble. We contacted the Indian missions here but have yet to get a reply," Deepak said. "The owner of the vessel, an Iraqi national, was not responding when we asked whether we can leave Basra. We are struggling for food and other facilities. Now we don't know what to do with the body of our compatriot," he added.

Ansar Sha, a member of the Mission to the Seafarers, who is currently helping the crew members, said "We contacted the Indian mission in Baghdad for assistance to repatriate the body of the deceased and send the rest of the crew members home. But we have not got any positive answer as yet."

An Indian consulate official said: "We are trying to help save the crew members. But we have certain limitations at the moment. The Indian missions in Baghdad also cannot help easily because the mission is far away from Basra. We have contacted the mission there and we hope something will be done soon."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1721837.cms