Biswabrata Goswami
KRISHNAGAR, 24 MAY: Yet another youth from Nadia are reportedly missing while another rescued from Barge P-305 which sank 35 nautical miles from Mumbai amid rough seas due to the cyclone Tauktae six days ago.
Till today, three youths from Nadia who were working under ONGC projects in Bombay High off the coast of Mumbai, are reportedly missing.
Sreebas Ghosh of Jahaginpur under Kotwali police station limits, Sajal Biswas of Baghakhali in Tehatta and Tanmay Ghosh of Palashipara in Nadia are missing according to their family members. They all were working under ONGC projects.
Another youth named as Dipak Ghosh of Bogula under Hanshkhali police station limits, however, has been rescued unhurt from the sinking barge by the Navy.
Govinda Sarkar, maternal uncle of Sajal Biswas said that they received a message from ONGC on 22 May where it mentioned that the barge was sinking due to rough weather and it asked them to reach Mumbai as early as possible with valid documents.
Sajal joined the ONGC project seven years ago as a catering staff, he said adding that Sajal’s father Swapan, a groundnut seller has already left for Mumbai.
Prasanta Ghosh, father of Tanmay said he had spoken to his son last Saturday night. His mother Pratima also talked with him where Tanmay expressed his anxiety whether he could return home or not. During interaction, he told his mother that there was a heavy storm and the sea was rough. Hailing from a poor family as his father sells curd door to door, Tanmay after passing first year BA in 2020 joined the ONGC project.
Sreebas Ghosh also talked with his family members on Saturday, 15 May and Sunday, 16 May where he informed that he was in trouble because their barge was hit by the severe storm. On 16 May, Sreebas sent message to his sister that he probably could not be able to return home. His sister replied what has happened but he didn’t give any reply. Since then, the family has no information about him. Later, the family received a message from ONGC project authority urging them to reach Mumbai as early as possible.
Till Tuesday evening (18 May), 183 survivors from the barge as well as all 137 persons on board another barge, the Gal Constructor, were rescued.
The latest report came from the ministry that eleven more bodies were recovered from the sunken Barge P305 off Mumbai coast, taking the death toll to 60. Fifteen persons are still missing six days after the incident.
“From Barge P305, there are 186 survivors and 60 bodies have been recovered. Navy is coordinating search and rescue operations with ships and aircraft for the missing,” the Navy said on Friday. An underwater search is planned by the Navy’s Survey ship for locating wrecks of Barge P305 and Tug Varaprada using specialised teams and equipment, the Navy added.
Accommodation Barge P305 with 261 persons on board sank 35 nautical miles off Mumbai on May 17 in cyclone Tauktae. Three construction barges of Afcons Infrastructure working on a project of Oil and Natural gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) and one drilling rig of the ONGC deployed for exploration in Bombay High off the coast of Mumbai were hit by the cyclone.
