West Bengal: 9 feared dead, 8 rescued as trawler capsizes in storm
Times of India | 22 September 2024
The trawler overturned in a storm early on Saturday (left) ; doctors treat rescued fishermen (right) KOLKATA: Nine fishermen from Kakdwip are feared dead, though eight could be rescued, after FB Gobindo, the trawler they were in, overturned early on Saturday.
The team of 17 fishermen had set out from Namkhana to catch hilsa but the trawler overturned after being rocked by giant waves during a storm in the Bay of Bengal.
Around 2 am on Saturday, eight fishermen were on the deck while the fishing net was being lifted onto the trawler and the remaining nine were sleeping in the cabin below the deck.Around 2.30 am, a sudden jolt woke up the fishermen in the cabin. They looked out to realize it was a severe storm. Though the storm did not last more than 15 minutes, the boat shook so violently that the eight people on the deck fell into the sea. FB Gobindo capsized shortly and the nine inside the cabin could not be seen floating. It is believed they couldn't escape.
The eight thrown off board remained adrift from 2.30 am. It was around 5.30 am that another trawler spotted them and hauled all of them up. On learning about the spot where FB Gobindo had capsized, all the surrounding fishing trawlers were alerted via wireless. After efforts of three to four hours, they managed to right the capsized boat but could not find the missing nine. Later, Coast Guard and fishermen's organization's boats towed the trawler back. "We sent 8-10 trawlers in the morning. The chances of survival for the nine are slim," said Bijon Maity, secretary, Fishermen Welfare Association, Kakdwip.