The trawler, which departed from the Sundarbans in West Bengal on Wednesday with 17 crew members, was described by Surajit Bag, assistant director of fishing for the state government.
When the storm struck early Saturday near Bagher Char island, eight of the men were on deck and nine others were asleep in the cabin below, Bag reported to AFP.
The vessel was overtaken by severe waves and overturned, Bag stated.
Another trawler managed to rescue the eight men who had been thrown into the water, he added.
Despite a thorough search effort, the nine fishermen who were below deck could not be located. We fear they may have died.
An Indian Coast Guard ship has towed the trawler back to shore, and the survivors are reported to be in stable condition, Bag noted.
The Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its mangrove forests, is populated by thousands of fishermen who work year-round. However, the onset of the annual monsoon season brings hazardous weather and storms to the coastal area, increasing the risks of sea travel.
