Concerns Raised Over Mode of Getting Back Stranded Islanders from Mainland India

Port Blair, May 7: With the last Corona Positive case tested negative today, Andaman & Nicobar Islands now remain with no positive cases. This is happening for the second time in the islands that the positive cases have recovered well.

A total of 4666 samples were sent for testing till date out of which reports of 4531 have been received and 135 remains pending. Meanwhile 260 persons still remain under quarantine as on date.

While the recovery rate has been encouraging in the Andaman Islands, the worry now is transporting the stranded islanders back to the islands and also shifting of islanders stuck in Port Blair city to their respective islands. The Andaman & Nicobar Administration has been planning to schedule its ships to get the stranded people from different parts of mainland India back to the islands. But the decision of the administration to utilize ships to get back the stranded, has created a kind of confusion in the minds of the people.

Political parties have been demanding for flights to be chartered, which is a convenient way to return the islanders. The reasoning of the political parties stands valid as the islanders stranded are mostly patients, students and those who had gone on pilgrimages. All have exhausted their finance and patience and in this condition, the ship journey of three days seems to be an additional burden.

Meanwhile confusion also prevails on where the stranded are to be quarantined for the safety of the remaining islanders. There are talks indicating that the administration is planning to quarantine the stranded inside the ship itself, which if done will be an apathetic decision on the part of the authorities, most of who haven’t experienced the long sea journey.   

There are also indications that the administration is planning to quarantine the stranded islanders in the Medical College Hostel. The inmates of the ANIIMS hostel have raised their concerns over this decision. It is learnt that the existing students in the hostel have been asked to vacate for the purpose while the authorities plan to break open the locked rooms. With concerns raised by the students, it would be good on the part of the authorities to think over it again.

Whatever the decision taken, it is expected that the concerned authorities consult the elected representative, media and other stakeholders as these are the people who know the islands and the islanders better than the policy makers.