49 fishermen on board 3 trawlers go missing in Bay of Bengal

Three trawlers carrying 49 fishermen have gone missing in the coastal waters of West Bengal. The trawlers, named Neelkanth with 16 fishermen, Shreehari with 19, and MaaRiya with 14, had set out from Diamond Harbour and Kakdweep on Saturday. Officials confirmed that the vessels are currently untraceable, raising significant concern among local communities.

The families of the missing fishermen have filed reports with the local police, seeking help. The West Bengal Fishermen Association has called for urgent intervention by the Indian Coast Guard and the fisheries department to locate the missing trawlers. However, adverse weather conditions in the region have delayed search operations, making the situation increasingly precarious.

Joy Prakash Haldar, a representative of the Fishermen Association, highlighted the critical need for a coordinated rescue effort. "All 49 fishermen are missing. We've written twice to the authorities for assistance. Due to the weather, we are unable to conduct our own search. The Coast Guard or Indian Navy must step in," Haldar emphasized.

The missing trawlers had ventured into the Bay of Bengal from Diamond Harbour and Kakdweep to fish, but have not returned, raising fears about their safety.