Indian Coast Guard personnel and fishermen from South 24-Parganas on Sunday morning rescued 55 Bangladeshi fishermen from trawlers that had capsized in the Bay of Bengal in bad weather.

The fishermen were spotted floating on the Indian territory of the sea and brought to Raidighi and Kakdwip, where they were medically examined before being handed over to the state administration.

Coast Guard sources said its ship Anmol had rescued around a dozen fishermen 12 nautical miles from India’s international maritime boundary with Bangladesh, in an operation ongoing for the past two days.

Two Indian fishing trawlers rescued over 40 Bangladeshi fishermen, taking the number of rescued to 55.

Haradhan Moyra, secretary of the South Sundarban Fishermen and Fish Workers’ Union, said: “It is great gesture of our fishermen. We have arranged food for these fishermen brought to Raidighi and urged the administration to arrange their safe return.”

An official of South 24-Parganas district administration said: “Most rescued Bangladeshi fishermen have been put up at Canning. The state government has taken up the matter with Bangladesh authorities and they will be helped to return home after necessary formalities.”

According to media reports in Bangladesh, at least 18 fishing trawlers with more than 400 fishermen capsized in the Bay of Bengal near Kuakata in Patuakhali.

Till Sunday, 150 fishermen had been rescued, including the 55 on Indian territory, whereas around 250 fishermen are still missing, a media report in Bangladesh said.

The Bangladeshi fishermen had set out for deep sea fishing during August 16-17. “But a cyclonic formation unsettled their journey and they were asked to return. But before they could enter safe water zone, the sea turned turbulent and trawlers capsized.