Kolkata: The West Bengal government on November 14 confirmed 49 fishermen had died in the Bay of Bengal during the November 12 cyclone and said 111 others were still missing, as Coast Guard helicopters and ships continued searches.

Five trawlers from East Midnapore district capsized with 13 fishermen, while another seven trawlers with 68 fishermen on board, were missing, Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee told reporters.

Altogether, five trawlers from South 24-Parganas district capsized during the storm with 26 fishermen on board, while another four trawlers, with an unspecified number of fishermen on board, were missing, he said.

Bhattacharjee said the East Midnapore district magistrate and superintendent of police were camping at Digha to co-ordinate search operations, while a special control room was opened at Kakdwip in South-24 Parganas.

Agriculture Minister Kamal Guha said crops worth Rs 53 crore were damaged in East and West Midnapore, North and South 24-Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly districts following heavy rains.

PTI