Fishermen from Navsari-Valsad stranded in Iran return home: Centre successfully rescues after MP Dhaval Patel's submission

Amid the war between Iran and Israel, fishermen from South Gujarat who were stranded in Iran have returned home safely. With the active efforts of Valsad-Dang MP Dhavalbhai Patel and the coordination of the Central and State Governments, many fishermen of Navsari and Valsad districts have been rescued. Fishermen from Navsari and Valsad districts had gone to Iran to seek employment. The war in West Asia had made the situation very serious. Due to lack of communication and security, these fishermen were stuck there, which caused great anxiety among their local families. The families of the fishermen contacted Valsad-Dang MP Dhavalbhai Patel about the problem. The MP took the matter seriously and immediately took up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Jaishankar made written and oral submissions. Apart from this, he was also in constant touch with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi at the state level. Ministry of External Affairs, in coordination with the Indian Embassy in Iran, has facilitated the safe return of fishermen. After the successful repatriation, the fishermen got emotional and said that given the situation there, there was little hope of returning home, but due to the intervention of the government, they came back alive today. The families have expressed their heartfelt gratitude to MP Dhaval Patel and the Modi government for bringing back the fishermen. Second batch of stranded fishermen returns home Union Minister Piyush Goyal, along with BJP office-bearers, on Saturday welcomed 312 Indian fishermen who returned from Iran at the Chennai International Airport. Recently, 345 fishermen from Iran have returned safely to Chennai, this is the second batch of stranded fishermen to be brought back to the country. 73 fishermen from Gujarat returned on Saturday Of the fishermen who reached Chennai on Saturday, 222 are from Tamil Nadu, 73 from Gujarat, nine from Kerala and eight from other states. Among the fishermen from Tamil Nadu, 104 are from Kanyakumari district, 30 from Tuticorin, 35 from Tirunelveli, seven from Nagapattinam and 4 from other districts including Mayiladuthurai. According to sources, more than 1000 Indian fishermen from the coastal areas of the country were working on a contract in Iran. He was stranded there without employment due to rising tensions between Iran and the US-Israel, following which his family members appealed for immediate intervention. Speaking to the media after welcoming the fishermen, Goyal said that with the efforts and cooperation of the Indian embassies in Iran and Armenia, the stranded workers have been brought to India after crossing the Iran-Armenia border. He added that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his team were in constant touch with fishermen to ensure their safety. "The embassy coordinated in taking them to Armenia, from where flights were arranged to bring them back," he said. They may be from different parts of the country, but the spirit of nation and unity binds them together," he said.