North Andhra Youth Stranded on Ship Near Iran Coast Amid West Asia Conflict

Several youths from North Andhra Pradesh have been stranded on a ship near the Iranian coast for the past six months, as they claim in a video message sent to their families. The vessel, MV Pascal, is anchored near the Bandar Abbas port’s anchorage area due to the ongoing West Asia conflict.

Among the 13 crew members onboard, including four foreigners, several Indians from North Andhra are trapped, including Komara Somaraju from Vizianagaram, along with others from Srikakulam district. The crew alleges that due to the ship owner’s negligence, they are facing severe hardship with inadequate food and drinking water for the past several months. They were sent through a Mumbai-based agent on a contract, but despite the completion of their six-month agreement, they have not been sent back or paid salaries for nearly a year. Families are now urging authorities to bring them back safely.