KOLKATA: A trawler laden with fish capsized around 100 nautical miles from Bakkhali harbour early on Wednesday. Ten fishermen, all residents of Bakkhali and Frasergunj, are feared dead. Only the captain and a fisherman were able to jump into the water before the FB Haimabati turned turtle. They were rescued by another trawler an hour later.
Captain Shankar Sasmal said the mishap occurred around 5am a few miles from Rakteswari Chawr, a sand bank. “There was no forecast of a storm. But suddenly, I felt a strong rolling in the sea. The trawler began to tilt dangerously and suddenly turned turtle. It happened within a split second,” he said.
Since it was early, 10 fishermen were sleeping inside the cabin. Saikat Das, a fisherman, had a providential escape as he went to the deck. “I felt the roll. I shouted to my colleagues from the deck as the boat was about to turn upside down. But none of them could wake up and get out of the cabin,” he said.
The crew had embarked on a deep sea fishing trip eight days ago. They got a good catch and were on their way back to Bakkhali harbour when the accident took place.
After the rescue, a message was sent to the harbour and a rescue team started a journey on a bigger trawler. They located the FB Haimabati around 10.30am. It was difficult to turn right side up, so two trawlers started tugging the capsized vessel ashore.
Bijon Maity, secretary, Kakdwip Fishermen’s Association, said: “Ten fishermen are still missing. We carried out a search in the zone, but found no one. Possibly, they got trapped inside the cabin and got a water burial. We can only confirm that once the trawler can be turned.”
