Fishermen caught out by lockdown virus in India

Hundreds of Indian fishermen, who said they were refused entry to two ports after a nationwide lockdown to combat the latest coronavirus was placed, docked in Maharashtra's western state after about a month at sea.

The fishermen were out in the Arabian Sea on March 24 when a 21-day lockdown was declared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has now been extended to May 3.

They tried to dock north at Nargol in the state of Gujarat, but said they were prevented from disembarking by locals, afraid they were carrying the illness.

The fishermen eventually managed to dock in the Maharashtran city of Dahanu, 135 km (95 miles) north of state capital Mumbai, on Friday, on around two dozen vessels.

According to one Reuters witness, they were immediately whisked off for medical examinations.

Maritime Business World