Over 650 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran; MP seeks urgent evacuation
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Chennai: Vijay Vasanth, Member of Parliament from Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari constituency, has made an urgent appeal to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for the immediate rescue of over 650 Indian fishermen stranded near Kish Island in Iran due to the ongoing regional conflict.
In a letter dated July 3 and addressed to M. Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary of the MEA’s PAI Division—which oversees matters related to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran—the MP highlighted the deteriorating conditions faced by the stranded fishermen, most of whom are from coastal villages in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari district.
According to the letter, the fishermen are grappling with severe shortages of food and essential supplies, leaving them in an increasingly vulnerable state. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran has further worsened their situation, heightening insecurity among the fishermen and causing serious distress among their families in India.
“These individuals are facing serious challenges, including severe shortage of food and essential supplies, which has led to mounting panic and fear among them,” the letter noted. Vasanth added that contact details and the location of the fishermen have already been shared with Indian authorities, and that Antony Shaju—whose Iranian contact number was provided—has been designated as the key liaison for further coordination.
Indian Embassy officials in Iran have reportedly visited the stranded group and assessed their condition. Vasanth has urged the MEA to urgently arrange for the delivery of essential food supplies and facilitate their safe evacuation back to India.
Describing it as a worsening humanitarian crisis, the MP stressed that immediate intervention would bring immense relief to the affected individuals and their anxious families. The appeal has drawn renewed attention to the plight of Indian nationals caught in conflict zones abroad.
Reports suggest that more than 1,000 fishermen from Tamil Nadu—mainly from Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi districts—had been working in Iran on contractual employment, particularly around the Kish Island port. Many of them had left their home villages in search of better livelihood opportunities.
However, fishing operations were suspended following the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Iran. Despite some easing of the conflict, the atmosphere remains tense, with local conditions still unsafe for the fishermen to resume work or even disembark from their motorboats.
Currently, more than 650 of them remain stranded on vessels around Kish Island, unable to fish or step ashore to access basic necessities. The Indian government has not yet released an official statement regarding an evacuation plan, but MEA sources have confirmed that the matter is being addressed with urgency.
With IANS inputs
