A massive hunt was launched today to trace the passengers from Ultadanga, including children, who went missing after their boat capsized in the midstream yesterday. Nine people were rescued by the locals.

Today, divers from the Haldia Coast Guard, Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), Kolkata Police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and district rescue team undertook a six hour rescue operation, but not a single body could be traced.

“The rescue operation began on Sunday evening but had to be stopped due to high tide, fog and whirlpools. We have not even found the boat yet,” said Choten D Lama, DM, East Midnapore.

Today, state Civil Defence Minister Srikumar Mukherjee, Minister of Disaster Management Mortaza Hossain and Subhendu Adhikari, MP, Tamluk, visited the spot. Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had rushed to Kolaghat yesterday and had asked Union Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy to send divers.

“We held a meeting with Haldia Coast Guard, National Disaster Response Force, Kolkata Police and civil defence team to decide on the strategy for the rescue operation. From 5 pm today, 24 boats have begun searching the river. We have arranged for a hover craft with search lights at the Geonkhali point of the river. But visibility in the water is very poor and divers can’t see beyond two feet while the depth of water at the site of the incidence is around 40 feet,” said Mukherjee.

He said the operation will continue for the next five days. “Navy Coast Guard and hover craft will lead the operation along with the divers,” he added.

Tamluk MP Subhendu Adhikari, however, didn’t leave the opportunity to criticise the operation.

“The rescue operation is completely mismanaged. The teams are not efficient and the district administration does not have any infrastructure to launch a massive manhunt,” he said.

He alleged the rescue operation began six to eight hours after the incident. Mortaza Hossain said they were looking for the bodies.