Trawler tragedy toll rises to nine
By IANSThursday, September 16, 2010
KOLKATA - The toll in the trawler tragedy on river Muriganga near Kakdwip in West Bengal’s South 24-Parganas district rose to nine with the discovery of two more bodies of pilgrims Thursday, police said.
“Two more bodies were fished out this afternoon. One more person is missing,” South 24-Parganas Additional Superintendent of Police (rural) Ranendra Nath Banerjee said.
The trawler, carrying at least 60 passengers including pilgrims from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab, sank in the Muriganga river Wednesday near the jetty at Kakdwip, around 85 km from here.
Several agencies, including state civil defence department, the Border Security Force (BSF), the Indian Coast Guard and police, joined in the rescue operations.
State Civil Defence Minister Sreekumar Mukherjee rushed to the spot Thursday morning to supervise the search operation.
A senior official said Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has already announced a special train to send the bodies of the victims to their native places in north India.
The trawler carrying passengers from Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal was coming to Kakdwip when it capsized.
A preliminary investigation revealed the trawler capsized after it ran aground on the silt, police said.
