Bodies of 8 of 19 missing fishermen recovered from Bay of Bengal

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has recovered the bodies of eight of the 19 fishermen, who went missing on Monday after their trawlers capsized in the Bay of Bengal, a top ICG official said here today.

"The bodies have been handed over to the fishermen's associations for identification," ICG Inspector General (North East region) K S Sheoran said.

Six bodies were recovered today, while two were found yesterday, he added.

The bodies were found from an area in the sea, about 35 nautical miles from the Dalhousie island, and a Dornier aircraft and Coast Guard ship "Sujay" were continuing with the search for the remaining missing fishermen, Sheoran said.

A hovercraft was also maintaining vigil close to the coast, he added.

The fishermen had ventured into the sea from Frazerganj in South 24 Parganas district.

Fishing trawler FB Joykishan had capsized amid an extremely rough sea condition and inclement weather on Monday, following which the search-and-rescue operation was launched by the Coast Guard.

The members of fishermen's associations also assisted in the search-and-rescue operation.

"The Coast Guard station at Frazerganj is co-ordinating with the fishermen's associations in the area and is also in touch with the families of the missing persons," Sheoran said.

The search operation would continue till all the missing fishermen were accounted for, he added.

Meanwhile, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea due to the prevailing inclement weather, rough sea condition and a fresh depression developing over Northeast Bay of Bengal, Sheoran said.

Six to seven trawlers carrying men from the Namkhana and Kakdwip areas of South 24 Parganas had set sail around 10 am on Monday, Bijan Maity, Secretary, West Bengal United Fishermen Association, said.

Three of the boats -- FB Malleshwar, FB Joykishan and FB Maa Shibani -- capsized in the sea.

Ten fishermen on board FB Joykishan, six on board FB Malleshwar and three more, who were on other trawlers, had gone missing, Maity said.

All the 17 fishermen of FB Maa Shibani, six of FB Joykishan and five of FB Malleshwar were rescued, he added.