Bhubaneswar, Apr 25 (IANS): To dodge lockdown restrictions, a group of 38 persons from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh undertook a five-day journey from Chennai along the sea route to return to their native villages.

However, after reaching Patisunapur coast in Odisha's Ganjam district, the district administration, which had prior information about the sea voyage, put them in a quarantine centre on Saturday evening.

The fishermen, including 29 from Odisha and nine from Andhra Pradesh, had taken a boat for about Rs 2 lakh to reach their destination, said sources.

They took the sea route on April 20 and reached on Saturday evening.

"It took us five days to reach here. After we faced difficulties in Chennai, we decided to move to our states," said a fisherman.

The officials said that 29 fishermen from Odisha are residents of Rangeilunda and Chikiti blocks.

"Their personal details are being registered after which they will be sent to 14-day quarantine. Health check-up will also be done," said Hara Prasad Bhoi, Chikiti Tahasildar.

Ganjam District Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange said their swab samples will be collected for testing of COVID-19.

"We will take them to a quarantine centre, where they will stay for 14 days. As a precautionary measure, the swab samples of the fishermen will be collected and tested for COVID-19," said Kulange.