Indian Embassy Provides Aid to Stranded Citizens in Iran, Centre Informs Madras High Court
The Central government on Tuesday informed the Madras High Court that the Indian Embassy in Iran is actively providing assistance to Indian nationals who are currently stranded in the country. This submission was made during a hearing concerning petitions filed by family members seeking the rescue of their relatives working as fishermen in Iran.
Petitions Seek Rescue of Stranded Fishermen
The court was hearing two separate petitions. The first was filed by R Sahaya Resmon Raj, who sought a direction to the authorities to rescue his brother, R Sahaya Jenish Raj, employed as a fisherman in Iran. Similarly, J Jeolin moved the court, requesting assistance to rescue her brother, J Judelin, also working as a fisherman in Iran. Both petitioners emphasized that the fishermen are stranded and require safe return to India.
Centre's Submission on Evacuation Challenges
In response, the Centre submitted that while the Indian Embassy is committed to offering the best possible assistance, evacuation efforts are currently hindered by operational constraints. Iran has closed its ports and airports for ingress and egress, making it beyond the immediate control of the authorities to facilitate direct evacuations. The government highlighted that helpline numbers and email IDs have been circulated to ensure stranded Indians can access support.
Court's Directive to Avail Embassy Assistance
Taking into account the submissions, Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy directed the petitioners to avail the assistance provided by the Indian Embassy in Iran. The court instructed them to forward all necessary details to the embassy to facilitate the process. Following this directive, the petitions were disposed of, with the focus now on utilizing the embassy's resources for aid.
This development underscores the ongoing efforts by Indian authorities to support citizens abroad amid challenging circumstances, while also highlighting the logistical hurdles posed by international closures.
