Crew Go on Strike Against Lakshadweep Devt Corp, Passengers Stranded
 
Pics: Savitha B R
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Jan 11: Crew members of two cruise ships namely Mini Coy and Dweep Sethu have gone on strike to protest against the lack of concern of Lakshadweep Development Corporation Limited (LDCL).

They alleged that the dead body of one of the crew, Shameem Yusuf Ali who died in Cochin port after a cardiac arrest on Sunday January 9 was not looked after by the LDCL. His body has been kept in a mortuary in Cochin.

Staff members of both the ships say that LDCL's attitude towards the dead Shameem was inhuman and expressed their fears that they too might be treated in a similar way in the future.

All the passengers and cargo ship unions in Bekur Cochin, Mangalore have been on strike since Sunday January 9. The strike is now in its third day.
 
The worst hit are the passengers. One Tipu Sulthan from Kiltan Island in Lakshadweep speaking to Daijiworld said that he had sailed from the Island on December 29 with a return ticket. He was supposed to be sailing back on Monday January 10. He complained that crew authorities have not been allowing any of the passengers to get into the ship. Thus all the stranded passengers are staying in lodges paying high rental charges. Even food has not been provided by the crew authority.
 
Some of the passengers came with the purpose of getting medical treatment. They have been suffering as their expenses are going beyond their budget.
 
As many as 300 passengers - 150 in each cruise ship - have been stranded.
 
Meantime reports stated that Vasanth Kumar, administrator of LDCL will hold a meeting in Cochin at 2.30 pm on Tuesday January 11 to compensate and resume the ship service to Lakshadweep as soon as possible.