MV KAVARATTI

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Gujarat tourists held hostage on Lakshadweep, freed

It was a situation that occurs only in movies but, in this case, it was happening for real. Around 130 tourists, most of them from Gujarat, found themselves stranded on the Kalpeni island of Lakshadweep on Saturday with no water, food or communication with the outside world. The tourists, including 26 children, had arrived here earlier in the day from Kavaratti, the headquarters island of Lakshadweep. They were about to board a mini-boat that would take them to the cruise ship, MV Kavaratti, when about 300 local villagers stopped them saying they did not have valid tickets. The tourists had to stay on the island without food or water till around 2:30 am on Sunday when help finally arrived. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_gujarat-tourists-held-hostage-on-lakshadweep-freed_1605439

Tourists stranded in Kalpeni

130 tourists, who were stranded in Kalpeni on Oct 29, 2011, without food and water after some locals prevented them from boarding the "Kavaratti", left the place on Oct 30 following police intervention. The tourists, most of them from Gujarat, reached Minicoy island on board a ship with police escort. The group that included 26 children had come from the headquarter island of Lakshadweep and were about to board a boat to take them to the "Kavaratti" when about 300 locals stopped them saying they did not have valid tickets. Their ordeal ended after Gujarat Chief Minister, whose office was informed by one of the members of the group from the state, called up Home Minister asking him to intervene in the matter, according to the Gujarat Information Office. At 10.30 p.m. prohibitory orders were issued to remove the local people from the embarkment point, administration sources said. The people dispersed at around 2.20 a.m., and with police escort, the passengers were taken to the ship. All the passengers had valid tickets and they were allowed to board the vessel, which would reach Kochi Nov 31.

Lakshadweep Islanders urge repair of MV Kavaratti

The islanders in the city are a worried lot. With the authorities failing to provide vessels to Lakshadweep islands, passengers have written to the Administrator demanding urgent measures to repair the vessel MV Kavaratti which has been held up due to engine trouble. A mass petition signed by 197 passengers was on Tuesday sent to new Lakshadweep administrator Amarnath in this regard. In the petition, the passengers pointed out that M V Kavaratti, the biggest passenger-cum- cargo ship to Lakshadweep islands, has been held up in Kochi following engine trouble. Following this, the vessel has not been operational since August 3.