Andaman’s stranded passengers brought back from flood – hit Chennai Safely

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Dec 06: Nearly 130 Andaman Islanders, who were stranded at Chennai since past several days, have been brought to Port Blair today safely by Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
It was an emotional moment for many while for others it was a moment of great relief, when their family members, who were struck at Chennai due to heavy rain and flooding, came out of the airport with a smiling face. After meeting with family at Airport many broke into tears because of the great sense of relief.
An Air India aircraft with 130 passengers, mostly students, senior citizens and patients, reached at Port Blair today at around 12.45 pm.
A large number of people consisting of family members of the stranded passengers were waiting at Port Blair airport eagerly since morning.
Following directions of the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands nearly 150 Islanders, who were stranded because of Chennai Floods, were given shelter at K K Nagar and Anna Nagar Guest houses of Chennai since last couple of days. It has been learnt that the Lt. Governor had directed the DRC Chennai to open even VIP rooms for stranded passengers and DRC Chennai has put a great efforts to take proper care of all public.
The Lt. Governor had also directed the Deputy Resident Commissioner of Chennai and the Civil Aviation unit of Administration to make arrangements to bring back all Andaman’s stranded passengers at Chennai to Port Blair as soon as possible.
“Thanks to the Administration, Atleast we got a safe place to stay during Chennai floods. It was too difficult for us to stay back in College Hostels as due to flooding all kind of insects and snake entered our rooms,” said a college girl who came back in today’s flight.
Passengers said still lot of people, especially boys, are stranded at Chennai Andaman Guest House, mostly boys as in today’s flight preference was given to girls, senior citizens and patients.