Tragic Fishing Boat Capsize in West Bengal Claims Lives of Nine Fishermen

Fishing Boat Disaster in Bengal

A significant tragedy has unfolded in the Bay of Bengal near the coast of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. Following the sinking of a fishing vessel, the bodies of nine fishermen have been recovered. A senior official reported on Monday that six additional fishermen remain unaccounted for, prompting ongoing search efforts. The recovered bodies were in a severely mutilated condition, complicating identification.

The ill-fated boat, named 'Jai Maa Kali', set sail on July 2 from the Shankarpur port in East Medinipur with 15 fishermen on board, including three from the neighboring state of Odisha. According to officials, all communication with the vessel was lost after July 6, leading to the initiation of search operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed profound sorrow over this tragic incident. In a message shared on the social media platform X, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) stated that the loss of lives in this boating accident in South 24 Parganas is deeply saddening. The Prime Minister extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wished for the swift recovery of those injured in the incident.

In response to the tragedy, the PMO announced compensation for the victims' families, stating that each family of the deceased will receive a relief amount of two lakh rupees from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. Additionally, those injured in the accident will be provided with assistance of 50,000 rupees.

After an extensive eight-day search operation, the police and the Indian Coast Guard located the sunken boat on Saturday. It was found approximately 35 kilometers from the Bakkhali coast, in a sandy area known as 'Bagher Char'. According to district officials, the Coast Guard, police, and local fishermen are collaborating in a continuous search operation to locate the six missing fishermen.