Trawler capsize spotlights lapses: Stay on deck key to safety during turbulence

Trawler capsize reports from the Bay of Bengal have highlighted potential safety lapses, with five fishermen still missing. Investigators said the recovery of 10 bodies from inside the capsized fishing trawler Jai Maa Kali has shifted attention toward whether crew members repeatedly ignored a key instruction issued by the state fisheries department and fishermen’s organisations: staying on the open deck during turbulent weather rather than taking shelter inside the cabin. Nine bodies were found in the cabin on Monday, and one more was retrieved on Tuesday, with officials believing the fishermen were trapped when the trawler overturned in rough seas. The boat carried 15 fishermen, including three from Odisha, after sailing from Shankarpur Fishing Harbour in East Midnapore on July 2 for a deep-sea trip. Contact was lost after July 5, prompting a multi-agency search, and the vessel was located nine days later during a Coast Guard aerial reconnaissance. Authorities suspect severe weather and possible impact with shifting sandbars. A renewed awareness campaign is being discussed as unions emphasize deck-safety protocols.