An unauthorised mechanised fishing boat capsized in the Bay of Bengal near Kalas Island, around 40km away from Bakkhali in South 24-Parganas, in turbulent weather early on Saturday.
All 12 fishermen on board FB-Tarama engaged in marine fishing, however, were rescued by crew in boats nearby.
Jayanta Kumar Pradhan, assistant director of fisheries (marine), South 24-Parganas, said: “We have issued a show cause notice against the owner of the boat, identified as Samiran Khatua, a resident of Braja-Ballabhpur of Patharpratima for unauthorised fishing and flouting the weather alert. The boat was not registered for marine fishing.”
The capsize took place within a week of four persons drowning when a vessel with barrels of fuel lost balance and capsized in river Hooghly in East Midnapore’s Nandigram.
Sources in South 24-Parganas district administration said the boat in Saturday’s incident was not authorised for marine fishing and had flouted the “weather warning” that categorically asked fishermen to return from sea.
Marine fishing resumed from June 15, after three months of mandatory ban in the east coast to help fish breed. However, owing an apprehended turbulence in the sea, the administration issued yellow alert for June 17-18 and red alert for June 19-20 asking fishermen who had gone for marine fishing to return immediately.
FB Tarama left for marine fishing on June 17 from Patharpratima, violating the weather warning. Secretary of Kakdwip Fishermen Welfare Association Bijan Maity said the boat capsized after breach on its floor.
“If the boat is unauthorised, the government will take legal action with it. However, we are yet to verify whether it was unauthorised,” said Maity.
In other parts of south Bengal, water level in most of the seasonal rivers sourced from different areas of Jharkhand are rising following heavy rain in the neighbouring state and most dams releasing water. Officials said despite the rise in water levels in rivers like Bhagirathi, Ajay and others, they remain under the danger level.
Sources in the irrigation department said, Durgapur barrage had released 50,525 cusec water till 3pm on Saturday and was likely to release more water subsequently. However, the amount of water released dropped on Saturday afternoon. Officials said the barrage had released 70,000 cusec water on Saturday morning but by afternoon the amount was reducing bringing some relief to the irrigation department.
The water level in Bhagirathi in East Burdwan’s Katwa was 12 meters on Saturday afternoon, while the danger level stood at 13.17m. The water level in Damodar was 27.69m and remained much below the danger level of 32.79m.
The amount of rainfall in south Bengal districts decreased on Saturday compared to the past three days. As per the sources in the Met office, till 6am on Saturday, Canning in South 24-Parganas received 76.6mm rainfall, which is the highest in the state. Darjeeling and Bankura received 44.4mm and 33.6 mm rainfall during the same period.
Additional reporting by Abhijeet Chatterjee
