Bhubaneswar, July 13: A massive maritime rescue operation confirmed the deaths of nine fishermen after their missing trawler was discovered overturned in the Bay of Bengal. Emergency response teams continue an intense, round-the-clock search for six individuals who remain unaccounted for following the vessel’s disappearance during a deep-sea fishing expedition.
Regional administrative leaders confirmed that the search teams are encountering significant physical obstacles during the recovery phase at the site. Sundarban Development Minister Dipankar Jana stated that “The large volume of water inside the vessel has made recovery difficult. Bodies are being retrieved gradually as the water is pumped out. The search for the missing will continue.”
The vessel had initially departed from the Shankarpur fishing harbor on July 2, completely losing all communication channels by July 5. A joint force comprising the Indian Coast Guard, Navy, and local police eventually located the damaged craft near Bagherchar, subsequently towing it to Sitarampur Ghat for a detailed interior extraction.
Industry representatives affirmed that the impact of the accident spans multiple coastal communities. Bijan Maity, President of the Kakdwip Fishermen Trawler Owners’ Association, declared that “Nine bodies have been recovered so far, including three from Odisha. We are continuing the search for the remaining six.” The state government announced plans to expedite financial compensation to support the grieving families as identification efforts continue.
