Toll in Bengal trawler mishap climbs to 83

With two more bodies fished out of the Hooghly river, the toll in the trawler capsize mishap rose to 83 on Thursday.

Meanwhile, fishermen spotted a piece of wood floating in the middle of the river on Wednesday evening near Chakfuldubi village bearing the trawler's name 'Ma Durga'. They pulled it to Majarchar village and informed the authorities.

The police on Thursday morning reached the spot with a launch and divers to determine if it was indeed the elusive trawler that was carrying 246 passengers.

Though Home Secretary G D Gautama had said on Wednesday that the trawler had been traced with echo-sounding machine,
Additional District Magistrate Nilanjan Sandilya said that the position of the trawler had shifted due to the tide.

At least 70 people were still missing. Ninety-three people had swam to safety after the vessel, which was sailing from Hijli
Sharif in East Midnapore district to Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas district, sank on October 30.