KAKDWIP (WB), Oct 30 (PTI) - 18 people, 15 women and 3 girl children, were drowned and many were missing when an overcrowded trawler carrying about 100 pilgraims capsized in Hoogly river at Talpatti island in East Midnapore district today.
The area is near the Bay of Bengal and there are strong currents in the river.
Nilanjan Shandilya, South 24 Parganas Additional District Magistrate (Revenue), said 45 people have been rescued so far.
One of the rescued is a girl of about nine years who was floating in the water.
He said the trawler overloaded with pilgrims was returning to Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas from Hijli Sharif, opposite Sagar Island, in East Midnapore district when it capsized during the day.
The trawler was among three returning from Hijli Sharif.
Five bodies have been identified so far and all of them hailed from Kakdwip.
