Man to reunite with family today

BHUBANESWAR:ADRIFT for 28 days in the high seas before he was washed ashore near the mouth of Chilika Lake on Friday last, Andaman man Amrit Kujur, 49, on Wednesday left Odisha to reunite with his anxious family.

Kujur, who is from Saheed Dweep of the Andamans, was washed ashore on a battered boat 28 days after he and his friend lost their course in the sea. Two successive storms battered his boat while the sea current propelled him 1,300 km away from his home. Kujur and his friend, Dibyaranjan, who died on the way, sold provisions and potable water to ships in the Andaman Sea.

Kujur flew to Kolkata on Wednesday en route to Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman Islands. He will arrive in Port Blair on Thursday. Kujur spent five days in a shelter home in Odisha’s Puri.

“...Kujur’s story is one of fight against all odds, bravery, and resilience.. we provided all possible assistance like food, shelter, medicines, clothes and other basic essentials so that he could gets back to his normal condition,” said Balwant Singh, Puri district magistrate. Singh said an officer from the district administration is accompanying Kujur up to Kolkata. The Puri administration paid for his return home.

After he was washed ashore near mouth of Chilika lake, Kujur said he had lost all hope of returning home alive. “Everyone in Odisha including the villagers, police and officials treated me well. I am grateful for the help I got from people of Odisha,” he said before leaving for his home.