A homecoming for two missing Indian fishermen

Port Blair, Jan 19: It was a new life for the two missing fishermen of a remote Indian island of Andaman and Nicobar chain when they were repatriated to India by the Myanmar authorities, but not before a six months stay in Yangoon.

"Six months is a long time, especially when you have to just sit and wait for your repatriation," Khitish Mazumber one of the two fishermen told sources today in Port Blair.

Khitish and his friend Dilip Mondal were formally handed over to the police authorities here by the Coast Guard officials late last evening, after their arrival in Port Blair onboard Coast Guard Ship Varad.

Both the fishermen, looked delighted today and said they wanted to reach their Ramakrishnapur village of Little Andaman Island, situated in South Andaman region, as soon as possible.

Talking about their ordeal to sources in Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman, Mr Mazumdar said that he along with his companion had gone for fishing in the sea near Hut Bay area in June last year when they were caught in a cyclonic weather. The dingy in which they sailed had gone out of order and they started drifting directionlessly.

''We had to spend 16 days in the dingy at mid-sea without food and water in turbulent sea and weather conditions. Though vessels were sighted but they did not respond to our distress calls,'' recollects Khitish.

''We struggled for life on each passing day and at last on the 17th day a Myanmarese fishing trawler rescued us and handed over to the Myanmar Navy Vessel which was on a patrolling duty. The captain of the Myanmar Navy ship gave me a wrist watch when he came to know that we are not poachers,'' said Khitish displaying the watch proudly.

''In Yangoon we stayed in a temple from where we were able to trace out the office of the Indian Embassy which later provided the required documents for repatriation,'' he said.

The Captain of the Coast Guard Ship, Commandant Rajendra Nath told UNI