Indian sailors stuck on MV Jag Anand and MV Anastasia have called for help with navigation officer Gaurav Singh, 29, saying that one crew member even tried to end his life.

MV Jag Anand is anchored near Jingtang port in Hebei province of China since 13 June and has 23 Indian sailors. MV Anastasia with 16 Indian nationals is on anchorage near Caofeidian port in China since 20 September.

Talking to leading newspaper, Singh said: “We are all losing our minds here”. 

Indian crew member attempts suicide

China has blocked these ships from changing crew in its ports purportedly to control the potential spread of Covid-19.

While China claims that Indian sailors were getting necessary assistance, the crew has alleged that they have been held ‘captive’ on a ship without clean water or a doctor on-board.

On 25 December, India said two cargo vessels were not allowed to unload their cargo though some other ships have managed to do so.

“There is a considerable amount of stress on the crew members on account of this unprecedented situation,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said.

Zhao said there was no “link” between the two ships stranded at Chinese ports and its strained relations with India and Australia.

Considerable stress on crew members: MEA

MV Jag Anand along with 21 other ships is carrying over $ 200 million Australian coal and ships have been held up at Chinese ports due to the current political situation between Beijing and Canberra.

India and China are engaged in a bitter faceoff along the Line of Actual Control (LoAC) since the Galwan Valley incident in June.

China’s ties with Australia nose-dived after Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies was barred by the Scott Morrison government from its national 5G network due to concerns over national security.

Courtesy:sirfnews