Odisha Begins Process To Send Back Andaman Survivor

Puri: The district administration has begun necessary arrangements to send back Amit Khujur, the Andaman man who was rescued by locals of Khirisahi village in Krushnaprasad block after he reached Puri coast on his boat following nearly 21 days of survival without adequate food and water in Bay of Bengal.

Krushnaprasad Police interrogated Amit to ascertain his complete identity and place of nativity and also enquired about the details from his family to ensure his safe return. Khujur has been sent to a local shelter home where he will stay lodged until he is sent back safely to his native land, said sources.

Travelling from Port Blair to Neil Island in Bay of Bengal in a fishing boat, Amit and his friend Dibya Ranjan lost their direction due to a cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal on September 28.

Despite help from a Burmese ship a few days later, the two lost their way again while returning to their home after encountering another storm. While Amit kept ticking with very little amount of water to keep him alive, his companion however succumbed after days of starvation.

After floating in the sea for days, Amit’s ship finally drifted towards Odisha coast and touched Puri shores in the wee hours of Thursday.