Bhubaneswar, July 13: An atmosphere of grief and uncertainty has engulfed Odisha's Balasore district after three brothers from the state went missing following the capsizing of a fishing trawler off the West Bengal coast. Their families continue to wait anxiously as rescue teams intensify search operations in the Bay of Bengal.

The missing fishermen have been identified as Rabindra Majhi, Jagannath Majhi and Jayaram Majhi, sons of Madhusudan Majhi of Uluda village under Bhograi block in Balasore district. They were among the 15-member crew aboard the fishing trawler 'Maa Kali'.

According to reports, the trawler had departed from Shankarpur in West Bengal's Medinipur district on July 2 for Hilsa (Ilish) fishing in the Bay of Bengal. Contact with the vessel was lost shortly after it sailed, prompting a search operation.

On Monday, rescue teams located the overturned trawler near Rakhtachar Island, around 16 kilometres from Bakkhali. Personnel from the Indian Coast Guard, West Bengal Police and the Forest Department jointly carried out rescue operations and recovered nine bodies from the capsized vessel. The bodies have been sent to Kakdwip Sub-Divisional Hospital for post-mortem examination.

While nine crew members have been confirmed dead, six fishermen remain missing, including the three brothers from Odisha. Authorities fear the missing fishermen may have been swept away by strong sea currents.

The tragedy has left the coastal villages of Balasore in deep mourning. The families of the missing brothers have appealed to the authorities to continue the search operation until all the missing fishermen are traced.

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