Bring back hubby on board Japan cruise ship, woman urges Collector

According to S Malliga, a resident of Nagamalai Pudukottai, Madurai, her husband P Anbalagan was employed  as a crew member, who is on board the Japanese cruise ship ‘Diamond Princess’.

Fearing threats of COVD 19 in China, Malliga demanded the authorities to protect her husband from such viral disease through a petition to Madurai Collector TG Vinay.

In the petition, Malliga said the Indian crews of 160, including six from parts of Tamil Nadu, were on board the Japanese cruise ship. Those stranded on board should be provided adequate medical treatment and bring them back safelyto India.

The authorities from both the Central and state governments should intervene to bring them back soon, Malliga said. However, sources close to the seafarer Anbazhagan said he was fine and in good health. He was completely masked as the health staff on board adopted precautionary measures accordingly.

Anbazhagan is said to disembark from Japan on February 19 and reach India. Further, sources from the Embassy of India in Tokyo said those who have not tested positive, irrespective of their nationality, were not allowed to disembark. However, exception was made only for those passengers and crew members, who have been critically ill and taken appropriate medical and quarantine facilities. 

The Embassy is in contact with the relevant Japanese authorities to ensure welfare of their early disembarkation, in case they were not found to have tested positive for Covid-10. Moreover, the Embassy has been in constant touch with the ship management company and the employer to tie up their travel back to India,sources said.