Unpredicted turbulence caused two trawlers capsize; 29 fishermen rescued from Bay of Bengal

In an Intelligent & Quick action by the fellow fishermen saved 29 people in two separate incidents after their diesel-powered fishing boats capsized in the turbulent Bay of Bengal in the Sundarbans areas of West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, police and fishing community organisation said on Sunday.

The capsizing of the two fishing trawlers occurred in a span of a few hours on Saturday.

While FB Sakila with 13 fishermen on board capsized near Jambudwip around 9.00 am after the fishermen ventured out into the deep sea for fishing from Namkhana in the wee hours, following the trawler’s wooden floor split due to waves. However, the all the men were rescued by another trawler men All the 13 men, who held the capsized boat, were lifted from the turbulent water by the fellow fishermen, whose boat was very near to the drowning trawler.

Hours after another fishing trawler FB Ma Durga with 16 men on board were rescued by another trawler fishermen when the former capsized near Kendo island of the bay of Bengal. All the fishermen were later taken to a nearby hospital for medical check-up, police said.

The drowning of the two trawlers in quick succession created panic among the fishing community, whose only profession of venturing out in the sea for livelihood in the monsoon season.

Kakdwip Fishermen Welfare Association president Bijon Maity said although the inclement weather was over and there had been no warning from the authorities, the sea was still very turbulent.

Team Maverick