KARACHI, Jan 28: Five fishermen drowned in a boat accident near Charna Island off Mubarak Village on Friday night, it was learnt on Monday.

According to a fisheries source, a small fishing vessel, Al-Shab (5117-B), with nine crew members on board had left the Karachi Fish Harbour on a routine trip on Jan 25. It is believed that the boat might have hit the island mountain and capsized. Four of the crew members swam ashore.

The matter was reported to the Maritime Security Agency on Saturday for search of bodies. The Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCH) was also informed of the accident on Monday.

The crew members of ill-fated boat were Bengalis. The exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.

INDIANS: Meanwhile, an official of the FCS confirmed on Monday that the Maritime Security Agency had caught 53 Indian fishermen on board with nine boats in two operations.

The boats were seized and fishermen handed over to the police. The fishermen were charged with illegal fishing in territorial sea waters of Pakistan.

In reply to a question, the official said he had not received any information about the arrest of any Pakistani fisherman by the Indians.