Seven people drown in West Bengal

KOLKATA - Seven people drowned as a trawler capsized in the Muriganga river near Kakdwip in West Bengal’s South 24 Pargans district, police said Wednesday.

South 24 Pargans Police Superintendent L.N. Meena, admitting capsizing of a trawler said: “Bodies of seven people were fished out from the river. Still 10 people were reported to be missing and we are expecting more casualties.”

“A trawler carrying at least 60 passengers from Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal was coming to Kakdwip capsized when the trawler was about to reach the jetty at Lot number Eight of Kakdwip,” said the police chief.

Meena said: “After preliminary investigation it was revealed that the trawler capsized after a portion of it got stuck into the silt and sank immediately.”

“The local people started the rescue operation, which gain momentum after the divers and personnel of the state disaster management cell were pressed into the service. All the passengers rescued so far have been sent to Kakdwip hospital for treatment,” said Meena.

The district magistrate and sub-divisional police officer of Kakdwip and other senior district administrative officials are supervising the rescue operation.

A senior official said, “The divers and the Disaster Management Cell are facing problem to conduct the rescue operation in the dark. Initiatives have been taken for alternative arrangement.”