Fishermen flout Dana warning, 6 boats sink in Ganga

A tragedy unfolded in Samsherganj, Murshidabad, as six dinghy boats carrying fishermen capsized in the Ganga amidst warnings of Cyclone Dana. Despite advance alerts from authorities, several fishermen ventured into the river to catch fish, sinking the boats. Seven people went missing, with four managing to swim to safety. Currently, three individuals remain unaccounted for, and rescue operations are ongoing.

According to local sources, the fishermen had taken their canoes and fishing nets into the turbulent waters, defying warnings of the impending cyclone. As the winds picked up, the boats struggled to stay afloat, ultimately succumbing to the storm. The suddenness of the incident left little time for the fishermen to react, leading to widespread panic. While some were able to swim to shore, the fate of the remaining three is still uncertain, and their families are anxiously awaiting updates.

Residents are expressing outrage, blaming the Samsherganj administration for failing to take more assertive measures to prevent the tragedy. Many believe stronger warnings and more robust efforts to clear the river could have prevented the incident. One resident said, "Just like there was a flood warning earlier, the administration should have taken the cyclone warning more seriously. If they had alerted us properly with announcements and miking, this tragedy wouldn’t have happened."

Another eyewitness recalled the frantic efforts to save those trapped in the boats. "There was a boat, and I saw a man come out of it. Then, I noticed another boat in the distance, and people were screaming for help. I rescued as many as I could," he said. The scene was chaotic as residents rushed to save their neighbors, but with limited resources and time, not everyone could be reached in time.

While residents are pointing fingers at local authorities, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Samsherganj defended the administration's efforts. "There has been an incident of boat sinking, but warnings were already issued. From what we understand, the fishermen went fishing despite the advance alerts about the cyclone. It’s difficult to determine exactly how many boats sank, but it’s confirmed they were from the Vaishnavnagar area," the BDO stated.