 | Hundreds of fishermen still missing: Death toll rises to 73
21 September, 2006
Twenty three more bodies of the fishermen, who went missing after the capsize of several hundred fishing trawlers in the Bay of Bengal during Tuesday’s sudden storms, were recovered in Bagerhat, Khulna, and Patuakhali districts yesterday, rising the death toll to 73.
According to the reports sent by our correspondents quoting local administrations, the death toll may rise further.
Hundreds of grief-stricken relatives of the missing fishermen with heavy hearts thronged the seashores in the coastal belts of Bagerhat, Khulna and Patuakhali districts yesterday morning amid incessant rains in search of their near and dear ones.
They blamed the local administrations for ‘slow-moving’ rescue operations. The relatives also alleged that the local administrations were doing almost nothing to rescue the missing fishermen. Many of the relatives also alleged that they received misbehaviour when they approached to them seeking cooperation in rescuing the missing fishermen.
At least 25 boats, about 630 trawlers and a naval ship sank in the Bay when the violent storms swept the sea and the country’s coastal belt Tuesday evening.
Around 3,500 fishermen and the naval commander went missing during the fury of the sea storms.
Coastguards and fishermen recovered the 10 floating bodies from Dublar char, Kochikhali, Narikelbaria, Boleshher and Koloroa areas. They also recovered 200 fishermen from different coastal regions. The rescued fishermen said they saw as many as 21 bloated bodies floating on the sea in Dublarchar.
However, rescue operations have become difficult due to inclement weather in the coastal regions.
Turbulent waters and bad weather have been obstructing rescue operations being conducted by different teams including the coast guard and the navy.
Commanding officer of navy ship ‘BNS Shahid Farid’ Lt Commander Firoz Kabir, who went missing after the navy ship partly sank in the Bay at Akram Point in Khulna during the storms, could not be rescued till yesterday morning. Some 44 seamen aboard the ship are safe.
Helicopters, naval ships and rescue boats have been trying since Wednesday to salvage the partly sunken ship. But the salvage operation is being hampered due to heavy rain and strong wave in the sea. Local administration started distribution of relief materials among the fishermen with the help of coastguards.
Our Satkhira Correspondent reports: Emergency declared in Satkhira after 30 villages went underwater.
Release link:http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_30956.shtml
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