Five fishermen died and 20 are still reported missing after their fishing boat, which had drifted away into Bangladeshi waters during a cyclonic storm, capsized in the rough seas, officials said on Sunday.
According to the Coast Guard, which is conducting search and rescue operations jointly with the Bangladesh Coast Guard, fishing boat ‘Mahagauri’ with 17 crew members had drifted across the international maritime boundary line (IMBL) and capsized.
One crew member of the capsized boat, Anup Das, was rescued by a Bangladeshi fishing boat and handed over to an Indian fishing boat near the IMBL. Five bodies were found near the capsized boat which has been found south of Heron Point in Bangladeshi waters, officials said.
The boat is in upside down position and is being towed to the nearest landing point, where it will be turned to check for any more bodies trapped within.
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