Nine decomposed bodies of fishermen were recovered on Monday from the wreckage of a fishing trawler that went missing off the West Bengal coast in the Bay of Bengal on July 4 after hitting rough weather, police said, adding that a search is underway for the remaining six fishermen.
“The wreckage of a fishing trawler, MV Joy Ma Kali, was found in the Bay of Bengal around 5 km from the Bagherchar coast in South 24 Parganas. Nine decomposed bodies have been recovered from the wreckage. Six fishermen are still missing. A search operation is on,” said a police officer from Sundarban police district.
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Local residents said that on July 2, some fishing boats, including MV Joy Ma Kali with 15 fishermen on board, left the Shankarpur coast in East Midnapore district. They were supposed to return after 10-12 days.
On July 3, however, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an adverse weather warning and asked the fishermen who had gone into the sea to return. “While others returned, MV Joy Ma Kali got caught in the bad weather. We lost contact with them after July 4. Thereafter, the administration was alerted and a search operation was launched,” said Kartick Bera, brother of the fishing trawler’s owner.
{{/usCountry}}On July 3, however, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an adverse weather warning and asked the fishermen who had gone into the sea to return. “While others returned, MV Joy Ma Kali got caught in the bad weather. We lost contact with them after July 4. Thereafter, the administration was alerted and a search operation was launched,” said Kartick Bera, brother of the fishing trawler’s owner.
{{/usCountry}}A search operation was launched. On July 10, the police received information from some fishermen that a wreckage was spotted off the coast of Gobardhanpur. The bodies have decomposed beyond recognition. They have been sent for autopsy, he said, adding that the fishermen on the ship were from Odisha, Nadia, East Midnapore and West Midnapore.
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In an X post, the Prime Minister’s Office said, “I convey my condolences to the bereaved families. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured. From the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, an assistance of 2 lakh rupees will be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured will be given 50,000 rupees each.”