In a fresh capsize eight fishermen feared drowned in Bay of Bengal, third disaster since mid June

Kakdwip, South 24 Parganas, Aug 1 :   Close on the heels of the capsize of three trawlers in which 19 fishermen drowned at Frasergunj, at least eight fishermen feared drowned when a trawler carrying 18 people capsized near the Luthian island in the Bay of Bengal midnight last night.
Kakdwip Fishermen Welfare Association (KFWA) chief Bijon Maity told UNI on Wednesday that the capsize of FB Paromita took place around 2000 hours on Tuesday when 18 fishermen on board were returning to coast in the choppy waters.
While some ten people were rescued by the fellow fishermen, who had anchored near the small surface of Luthian island, eight otherswere swept away in the turbulent waters in the dark night, Mr Maity said.
Personnel of Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and KFWA members have beentrying to locate the eight missing fishermen in hostile weathercondition amid incessant downpour since Sunday.
Hundreds of fishermen with their fuel-powered fishing boats had sailedin deep water for catching Hilsa in the Bay of Bengal onSaturdaya/Sunday.
However, as weather condition started deteriorating from early Tuesday, the fishermen started returning home but got late due to choppy water, triggered by heavy rains accompanied by squall.
As most of the trawlers had anchored near the surface of Luthian island, the FB Paromita tumbled and capsized following a sudden gale.
While ten fishermen swam ashore to the island or rescued by other fishermen, the rest feared downed in the choppy water, Mr Maity informed.
This was the second disaster in July after 19 fishermen in three trawlers went missing on July 13 in which 19 feared drowned and 15 bodies have been recovered so far.
In mid June ten fishermen went missing and of them six bodies have been recovered so far.
UNI