A group of 108 Myanmarese nationals were detained after they illegally boarded a barge coming to Mumbai from the neighbouring country, Coast Guard sources said today.
After getting complaints of illegal entry by some unknown people onboard barge Ganpati, which was being towed from Myanmar to Mumbai by Star Jakarta, a Coast Guard ship was sent from north Andaman to intercept the barge on Thursday.
Andaman Nicobar Coastguard official Poornima Arora said their officers found 108 Myanmarese in the barge who were at sea since February 15 and had no food and water for the past seven days.
Due to severe dehydration and starvation in the absence of any medical aid, they had fallen sick. It was also reported that a 3-year-old boy had died and was given burial at sea by the Myanmarese.
They were provided with adequate food, water and medical support by Coast Guard ships.
All the intruders were brought to Diglipur in north Andaman and handed over to the local police on Friday, sources said.
