18 drowned in trawler capsize in Hooghly river
18 people, including three children, were drowned and many were missing when an overcrowded trawler carrying about 100 pilgraims capsized in Hooghly river at Talpatti island in East Midnapore district on Saturday.
The area is near the Bay of Bengal and there are strong currents in the river.
Nilanjan Shandilya, South 24 Parganas Additional District Magistrate (Revenue), said 45 people have been rescued so far.
One of the rescued is a girl of about nine years who was floating in the water.
He said the trawler overloaded with pilgrims was returning to Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas from Hijli Sharif, opposite Sagar Island, in East Midnapore district when it capsized during the day.
The trawler was among three returning from Hijli Sharif. The boatsmen of the ill-fated boat are yet to be traced.
Rescue operations were carried out by the Navy, Coastguard, National Disaster Rescue Force and Civil Defence, he said.
Those rescued were rushed to Kakdwip block hospital, he said.
The rescue operations has been called off for the night, District Magistrate N.S. Nigam said adding the help of army helicopters would be sought on Sunday.
Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting C M Jatua, West Bengal Sundarbans Development Minister Kanti Ganguly, Zilla Parishad chief Shamima Sheikh and Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chattopadhyay rushed to Kakdwip to oversee rescue operations.
Mr. Sheikh declared a compensation of Rs two lakh to the families of each of the victims.
Earlier report from our special correspondent:
A trawler carrying at least 100 people capsized in MuriGanga near Sagar Islands off the Bay of Bengal.
So far five bodies have been retrieved from the river and around 50 people have been rescued.
State Sundarbans Affairs Development Minister Kanti Ganguly, who has reached the site said that the casualty figure may go up as the boat was carrying at least 100 people.
The State government has sought the assistance of the Navy to help in the rescue operation which are being affected the heavy current in the river and the descending mist. (the hindu)
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