Stranded Indian seamen leave Yemen coast

Rajkot

About 70 Indian seamen, mostly Gujaratis, stranded in the strife-torn Yemen since last few days have reportedly left today for the Indian shore in their five dhows, the President of dhow owners association of Kutch Mr. Haji Juneja claimed on the basis of telecommunication received by him from the sailors today.
  
Around 70-80 seamen from Mandvi, Salaya and Jodia ports of Kutch and Jamnagar districts of Gujarat had been stranded for over 15 days in the coastal town of Khokha in Yemen where air strikes and heavy shelling has caused heavy damage during the ongoing civil war.
    
Mr. Juneja today said the seamen had set off for the Indian coast in five dhows at their own risk as their SOS failed to elicit any help from other quarters. India has closed its diplomatic mission in Yemen in the wake of the war.
    
The news of the trapped seamen first came to fore through a video message circulated through the Internet by them. It showed explosions in the small harbor town of Khokha with the five stranded Indian country crafts anchored off the coast.
  
The first few hours of their voyage are critical as they carry the risk of being attacked by the raiding war planes, Juneja said.
   
The stranded seamen had reportedly survived several air raids the last two weeks. They were hiding in a building in the town and moved out as soon as they felt somewhat safe.

DeshGujarat