Hyderabad: As many as 29 Indians are reported to have been stranded on board MT ROYAL PRIME as the ship accidentally caught fire on March 25, 2018 at 2.00 am. The ship is currently halted at Fujaria port at Dubai.
Amjadullah Khan, Majilis Bachao Tehrek (MBT) spokesperson and NRI activist said, “Varun Srivastava, an engineer on board the MT ROYAL PRIME, contacted me explaining what happened yesterday. He said that there is no electricity or food for the people on board. The Dubai Port police has taken the ship and people into their custody.”
“Though the cause of the fire is yet to be known, the officials are waiting for an action to be initiated from the Dubai government to India, so that the situation could be better understood. The stranded Indians were able to extinguish the fire with the fire extinguishers on board, Khan said.
“The manning agency, Medallion Marine Pvt. Ltd, that had sent the 29 Indians on the ship to Dubai, has also not been responding to their calls ever since the ship had caught fire, he added.
The stranded engineer also confirmed that there were no casualties reported. Though the ship is mobilised with Naptha, it is immobilised.
Amjadullah Khan said, “I really do not have any idea whether we have anybody from our state in the ship or not. There is no connectivity as people are stranded in the midst of a water body, and very rarely am I able to communicate with Varun.”
Khan also said that he has escalated the issue to Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister and also the concerned authorities in Mumbai who have ordered the arrest of the head of Medallion Marine Pvt. Ltd, who has not responded to the calls made to them.
