Cyclone ‘Sitrang’: Indian Coast Guard Rescues 20 Bangladeshi Fishermen Post-Landfall

Bhubaneswar: The Indian Coast Guard rescued 20 Bangladeshi fishermen from the sea after they were sighted by Coast Guard Dornier aircraft, which was on surveillance post-landfall of cyclone ‘Sitrang’, on Tuesday.

According to sources, the fishermen were hanging to floating debris after their fishing boat sank.

They will be handed over to the Bangladesh Coast Guard in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) existing between the two Coast Guards, added sources.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Indian Coast Guard rescued 10 fishermen from the Bay of Bengal on August 20, 12 nautical miles from the International Maritime Boundary (IMB) with Bangladesh in an operation that continued for a couple of days.

A day later, the Indian Coast Guard saved 17 more Bangladeshi fishermen. A total of 27 Bangladeshi fishermen were rescued in three separate operations.

Meanwhile, the remnants of Cyclone ‘Sitrang’, made landfall between Tinkona Island and Sandwip near Barisal in Bangladesh between 9.30 pm and 11.30 pm on Monday with a sustained wind speed of 80 to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph, has weakened into low pressure.

At least 35 people were killed and several homes were destroyed as cyclone ‘Sitrang’ destroyed Bangladesh’s southern coastlines and central parts.