16 fishermen rescued from sinking boat

Sixteen fishermen were rescued by a trawler when a fishing boat toppled in mid sea in Gangasagar area of South 24 Parganas district today, police said.

16 fishermen, who were returning on a fishing boat F B Sishubala, fell in water as the vessel toppled in choppy waters at a place, 10 km from Jammudwip in Gangasagar belt, this evening, a police officer said.

Alerted by their cries, a trawler from Namkhana, which was passing by, rescued all the fishermen, the officer said.

The fishermen came back to Canning late this evening.

A search would be conducted for the capsized boat and the fishing net tomorrow but there was slim chance of recovery, Fishermen's Association sources said.