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An urgent search operation has been launched after three fishing trawlers, carrying a total of 49 fishermen, vanished off the coast of South 24 Parganas district.
The trawlers departed from Sultanpur fishing harbour on September 10 for deep-sea fishing and were likely to return by 15 September.
As of Sunday, while other trawlers have safely returned to the harbour, the three missing vessels remain unaccounted for.
Rescue efforts have been ramped up, employing both sea-based rescue trawlers and aerial surveillance by helicopters.
The search has drawn in the Coast Guard, which is actively participating in the operation.
Preliminary reports from returning fishermen suggest that the engines of the missing trawlers experienced malfunctions, causing the propellers to fail.
The trawlers became stranded due to strong currents, and attempts by nearby vessels to assist by towing them with ropes were unsuccessful.
“Had we been able to secure a rope connection, we might have been able to bring them back to safety,” explained one fisherman whose vessel managed to return.
Families of the missing crew members are growing increasingly anxious and frustrated with the local administration’s lack of timely updates on the search progress.
They have called for more transparency and accurate information during this distressing time.
“Our earnest request to the administration is that at least we are provided with the right and updated information considering the state of mind we are in now,” said a relative of one of the missing fishermen.
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