Coast Guard rescues 140 pilgrims after boat runs aground amid thick fog in Bengal's Gangasagar

A boat ferrying 400 pilgrims ran ground off at Namkhana, Kakdwip area near the Gangasagar pilgrimage site in West Bengal, after which the Indian Coast Guard launched a major rescue operation.

The pilgrims were returning from Gangasagar after taking a holy dip on the occasion of Makar Sankranti when the boat carrying them ran aground due to poor visibility, owing to the dense fog in the region.

The Coast Guard personnel deployed hovercrafts from Haldia industrial port city, and have been successful in rescuing around 140 pilgrims so far, ANI reported. The rescue operations are currently underway.

Kakdwip is a town of the South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal, is situated in the Ganges Delta. Gangasagar is a Hindu pilgrimage which records footfall of thousands on the eve of Makar Sankranti every year. There is also a Mela (fair) organized here and is deemed to be the 'biggest pilgrimage fair of East India'.

Ferry services from Sagar Island in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district to Kachuberia were suspended on Tuesday due to dense fog causing inconvenience to pilgrims returning after the holy dip at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and river Ganga.

Ferry services were also temporarily suspended for about five hours on Monday due to low tide in the Muriganga river, an official said. However, services resumed Monday noon.

Nearly one crore pilgrims from across the country attended the Gangasagar Mela on Sagar Island and took a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal on Makar Sankranti on Monday.

Pilgrims were transported to Sagar Island through 36 vessels, 100 launches, and six barges operating across 22 jetties.

To enhance visibility on the Muriganga river, 300 fog lights have been strategically installed.

(With PTI inputs)