70 missing after boat capsize in Bay of Bengal

KOLKATA: About 70 people were missing when a launch buffeted by high velocity winds and rough sea capsized near West Bengal's Nayachar Island in Bay of Bengal on Thursday evening, a top Coast Guard official said.

DIG, Coast Guard (East) Gurupdesh Singh said that seven passengers had swum to safety after the launch,  which was sailing from Kulpi to Nandigram in East Midnapur with about 77 passengers on board capsized at around 5.30 pm.

A search and rescue operation using a hovercraft was launched by the Coast Guard immediately after being informed but darkness, high velocity winds and rough sea due to a low pressure which has developed over Bay of Bengal hindered operations, he said.

Singh, who was himself leading the rescue operation in a hovercraft, said the exact number of people on board the launch was not known and no bodies have yet been found.

The seven who swam ashore have been taken to Durgachowk police station at Haldia and were administered first aid.