The evacuation was facilitated by the Centre, with logistical and monetary assist guaranteeing their secure return. Authorities additionally organized meals, necessities and transport to their native districts upon arrival. (A consultant picture)
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BALACHANDAR L
A complete of 345 Tamil Nadu fishermen who have been stranded in war-torn Iran arrived on the Chennai worldwide airport on Saturday following a coordinated repatriation effort.
The group, comprising an preliminary 327 fishermen and a subsequent batch of 18, had been caught within the Middle Eastern nation as a result of prevailing battle within the area.
According to sources, greater than 1,000 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, primarily from Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, had been working in Iran on contract, significantly in and round Kish Island port.
Stranded with out work when the struggle between Iran and the US and its ally Israel started on February 28, the fishermen have been sending video messages to relations urging the federal government to rescue them.
Repatriation effort and assist preparations
The BJP sources mentioned that the repatriation was facilitated by the Central Government and the saffron get together. The BJP bore all the value of the air tickets for the stranded fishermen, amounting to roughly Rs 3.25 crore, to make sure their secure return to the nation, the get together sources mentioned.
Upon their arrival in Chennai, the fishermen have been supplied with meals, clothes, and different important facilities.
The get together additionally made preparations for particular buses to move the lads from the airport to their respective native villages, the fishermen mentioned whereas chatting with reporters at Chennai airport.
Leaders react to rescue operation
Meanwhile, Union Minister and BJP’s Tamil Nadu election in-charge Piyush Goyal described the rescue as a matter of “great satisfaction” and a mirrored image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s philosophy. Goyal famous that the Ministry of External Affairs, performing below the prime minister’s path, labored “day and night” to coordinate the tough journey to convey the residents again dwelling.
TN BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran detailed the gruelling rescue path, noting that the fishermen needed to undertake a 20-hour journey to Armenia earlier than flying to Chennai. Apart from Tamil Nadu, Nagenthran mentioned practically 20 fishermen from Kerala, Puducherry, Gujarat and Odisha have been additionally rescued.
Former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan additionally welcomed the repatriation. She mentioned the fishermen, who had been stranded with out meals for practically 25 days, expressed gratitude for the intervention of the prime minister that allowed them to flee the battle zone.
Published on April 4, 2026