West Bengal trawler capsize toll rises to 82

Kakdwip (West Bengal), Nov 4 (IANS) Divers Thursday spotted the ill-fated vessel which capsized in the Muriganga river of West Bengal, even as the death count rose to 82 with the discovery of yet another body.

'The trawler has been found near the accident spot,' said Nilanjan Shandilya, additional district magistrate (relief), South 24-Paraganas.

'Now efforts are on to lift it out of water,' he said.

Meanwhile, the death count has continued to rise.

'One more body was found floating today. The number of deaths is now 82,' South 24-Parganas police superintendent L.N. Meena told IANS over phone Thursday.

As many as 71 people are still missing.

'We are continuing the search operations involving the divers from the Indian Navy, the Coast Guard and Kolkata Port Trust,' Meena said.

The trawler ferrying 246 people, mainly Muslim pilgrims, to Kakdwip in South 24-Parganas from Hijli Sharif in East Midnapore district, capsized Saturday morning.

The accident occurred near Ghoramara Island, about 150 km south of Kolkata, in the mouth of the Muriganga river where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. Ninetythree people have been rescued so far.