8 fishermen found dead after trawler capsizes in Bay of Bengal storm, one still missing
Times of India | 23 September 2024
The capsized trawler that had 17 fishermen, mostly from Kakdwip, on board at the time of the mishap off Bagher Char in the Sundarbans KAKDWIP/(SOUTH 24 PARGANAS): Bodies of eight fishermen from Kakdwip were recovered from the trawler that had capsized due a storm in the Bay of Bengal early on Saturday morning.
With 17 fishermen on board, the trawler - named FB Gobindo - had set out from Namkhana to catch hilsa, but it overturned after being rocked by giant waves off Bagher Char in the Sundarbans.
Eight fishermen - who had managed to escape the drowning trawler - were rescued by another passing trawler. One is still missing. The process of identifying the bodies was underway till the last reports came in on Sunday evening.
The deceased, who were sleeping inside the hold, were trapped in the sinking vessel. The personnel of the Coast Guard and fishermen's organizations began the process of towing the overturned boat.
By 12:30 pm on Sunday, the trawler was brought ashore on Luthian Island, where the sea water was drained out of it. By 2:30 pm, the bodies trapped inside the trawler were recovered.
The deceased, aged between 27 and 55 years, were mostly Kakdwip residents. One of the deceased, Mukundo Boiragi, was from Teghoria in North 24 Parganas.
One of the rescued fishermen, Samir Mondal, said, "I am still trembling in fear. I can't forget that terrifying moment." That night, by 11 PM, they had pulled up the fishing net and placed it on the trawler.
The sky was completely clear, and they divided themselves into two groups, some sleeping on the deck and others inside the trawler. Around 2:30 am (early on Saturday), a sudden storm hit.
Bijon Maity, Secretary of the Kakdwip Fishermen Welfare Association, stated, "The process of identification of the bodies with the families is currently underway as per the regulations."