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Bengal trawler capsize: Toll rises to 80, over 50 still missing

The death count in the West Bengal trawler capsize in the Muriganga river rose to 80, with four more bodies being recovered on Wednesday. Fifty-one people still remain untraced.

Updated on: Nov 3, 2010, 17:05:53 IST
IANS | By , West Bengal
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The death count in the West Bengal trawler capsize in the Muriganga river rose to 80, with four more bodies being recovered on Wednesday. Fifty-one people still remain untraced.

HT Image
HT Image

"Four more bodies were found today. The number of deaths is now 80. Search operation is still on," South 24-Parganas additional district magistrate (relief) Nilanjan Shandilya said over phone.

The trawler ferrying 220 people, mainly Muslim pilgrims, to Kakdwip in South 24-Parganas from Hijli Sharif in East Midnapore district, capsized Saturday morning.

The accident occurred near Ghoramara Island, about 150 km south of Kolkata, in the mouth of the Muriganga river where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. Eighty-nine people have been rescued so far.

The search operation involved divers from the Indian Navy, the Coast Guard and the Kolkata Port Trust.

A helicopter and a hovercraft have also been deployed.

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