[BITList] INDO-PAK PARTITION: The Dispora by Sea

[John Feltham]

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Ships Nostalgia > Shipping Discussion > Shipping Lines >
British India Line > INDO-PAK PARTITION: The Dispora by Sea

*** Little appears to have been recorded regarding the evacuation
of refugees by sea, out of Bombay to Karachi, and vice versa.
Between 1947 and the following February, it is thought that some
200,000 were transported from these ports by ships of the British
India Steam Navigation Company. Because of the political implications
at this critical time, it seems that only ships of non-Indian/Pakistani
flag were considered safe from retributory action. The BI vessels
which became involved were, from their deck passenger carrying
capability, eminently suitable for this operation. The writer does not
remember other than BI ships being involved.

The BI ships involved (with their year of build and normal employment)
were as follows:

BAMORA (1914) "Slow" Gulf Mail

BARALA (1912) "Slow" Gulf Mail

DUMRA (1946) "Fast" Gulf Mail

DWARKA (1947) "Fast" Gulf Mail

EKMA (1911) Laid-up, Bombay Harbour

ETHIOPIA (1921) Calcutta-Madras-Rangoon-Calcutta

KAMPALA (1947) Bombay-East and South Africa

KARAGOLA (1917) Bombay-East Africa

KARAPARA (1915) Bombay-East Africa

SHIRALA (1925) Bombay-East Africa OR Calcutta-Straits

VARELA (1914) "Fast" Gulf Mail

VARSOVA (1914) "Fast" Gulf Mail ***
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ooroo

If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door.

Anon.