Two Sri Lankan families reached the Manalmeedu in Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu

They were rescued from the sandbar by an Indian Coast Guard hovercraft and handed over to the Indian Maritime Police for legal action.

Two families from Darumapuram in Kilinochchi — with a total of eight members  paid Rs 1.145 lakh to an illegal boat operator to reach India, officials said.
Five of the eight were women and two were children.

More than 225 Sri Lankan nationals have come to India seeking asylum following the economic crisis in the island nation, according to Indian sources.