Elderly Eelam couple found unconscious on Tamil Nadu beach

 28 June 2022

An elderly couple from Tamil Eelam were found unconscious on a beach in Tamil Nadu and have been admitted into hospital where they remain in critical condition, as they become the latest asylum seekers to flee Sri Lanka for India.

The couple were discovered lying unconscious at Dhanushkodi beach near Rameswaram on Monday morning, with signs of severe dehydration. The Indian Coast Guard sent a hovercraft, which reportedly took 3 hours to arrive. They have since been admitted to Ramanathapuram Govermnet Hospital where their condition remains serious.

They have been identified as 81-year-old Sivan from Mannar and 71-year-old Parameswari from Trincomalee.

So far more than 85 Tamils have come to Tamil Nadu fleeing Sri Lanka in recent months alone, as the economic crisis on the island worsens.