Over 100 feared killed in Bengal boat mishap
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GHORAMARA ISLAND: Pilgrims' progress turned into a tragedy when around 119 people returning to Kakdwip after prayers at East Midnapore's Hijli Sharif were feared drow-ned near Ghoramara Island in the Bay of Bengal.
The overcrowded trawler, carrying 175-200 pilgrims, hit a sand bar near the island around noon on Saturday and capsized in the rough seas under the impact of waves that splash-ed it when a large ship sailed by.
This is the second major boat tra-gedy in the state in two months. Arou-nd 20 people had died in a boat capsize in Sunderbans in September.
Bodies of 15 women and three children were recovered from the trawler till late afternoon amid fears that the toll may go up.
Fishermen rowed to the traw-ler and rescued 30 passengers who were admitted to Kakdwip hospital. Another 10 were rescued by locals.
Although Coast Guard and South 24-Parganas police teams did lend a hand, the entire rescue was essentially done by locals who were forced to suspend operations after dark as they lacked searchlights.
Union minister C M Jatua and South 24-Parganas zilla sabhadhipati Shamima Sheikh are camping at Kakdwip from where rescue teams will sail out early on Sunday.
The state government woke up late when chief secretary Samar Ghosh, who rushed back to the secretariat after calling it a day before lunch, presided over a meeting with officials. Disaster management teams were sent to the spot only after 3 pm from East Midnapore and Kolkata.
The Navy has responded to the state government's request for divers who will be brought from Visakhapatnam on rescue missions. The Navy told the state it doesn't have any divers at its facilities here. BSF, too, has sent a team while the first rescue team to reach was from the Coast Guard, which sent personnel on board a hovercraft from Haldia.
'Ma Durga', the trawler owned by one Sheikh Sohab of Kakdwip's Kamarhati, was hired by an extended family of 70 from Anandanagar village in Suryanagar gram panchayat. They reached Hijli Sharif on Thursday evening and offered prayers on Friday.
A crowd of many more pilgrims from Kakdwip and adjoining areas were returning from Hijli Sharif when the family boarded 'Ma Durga' for their return trip in the morning. Finding few launches and trawlers to take them back, over 100 other pilgrims piled on to the trawler hired by the family. 'Ma Durga' then set out for Kakdwip at 11 am.
(the times of india)
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