Kerala youth stranded on Iranian cargo ship, relatives seek help

KOLAM: A maritime trainee from Chandanahope in Kollam was stuck in an Iranian cargo ship off the coast of Sharjah for nearly a month. His family feared he was suffering. Akhimon M, 21, traveled to the country on the Iranian cargo ship Queen Star on April 14 last year. After completing his training at the International Maritime Academy in Chennai, he got a job offer through a recruitment agency in Jaipur. His mother, Rameeha Madhu, told TOI that the family last spoke to him four days ago. “They are not providing my son with proper food or wages. He said he is struggling. He is our only son and we are helpless,” she said. The family has contacted the ship owner and sought the intervention of Quillon MP NK Premachandran. “I have taken up the matter with the Indian Embassy in Iran… It is difficult to say when he will be able to return, but he is reported to be safe,” the MP told TOI.