CHENNAI: Bhuvanesh Kumar, a guest relations officer on the stricken cruise liner Costa Concordia, upon his arrival at the airport here, said that soon after they were rescued choppers arrived. We did not have any chance to help others because we ourselves did not know what to do. It was total chaos,” he said. Elated at having her son back, Vasanthi recalled the call she got from her son on Saturday. “He was scared and had lost everything. He was on a lifeboat and would reach an island soon.” Vasanthi said Bhuvanesh called subsequently and said officials were arranging to send them home.Ramkumar from Puducherry, who worked as a cook, said the incident happened after the ship took a wrong route. “We stayed in churches and schools on a nearby island after we were rescued. Indian Embassy officials arrived two days later. When we asked them for passports, they assured that they would help us get our passport.”His father Deivendran said he received a call from his son at 8.20 am on Saturday informing him of the incident. “He said he was on an island and had lost all his certificates, passport and laptop,” Deivendran recalled. The rescued members said the Italian government provided them with clothes, cash and phone cards.C Senthil Pandian, Regional Passport Officer, received the returnees at the airport. As many as 23 people from TN, including passengers, were on board the ill-fated ship. The rest are expected to arrive soon.
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