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CALCUTTA, Thursay (AFP) At least 54 fishermen were feared drowned and another 650 people were missing Wednesday after a severe cyclonic storm hit India's Bay of Bengal on the eastern coast, a top official said.

"We fear that at least 54 fishermen have drowned and 650 were missing after trawlers sank in deep sea," West Bengal state Fisheries Minister Kiranmoy Nanda told reporters.

He said that 12 trawlers capsized in the Bay of Bengal off the Sundarban mangrove forest when the storm moving at 60 kilometres (38 miles) per hour hit on Tuesday afternoon.

"Coast guards have rescued 65 fishermen so far," he said.

He said coast guard helicopters were searching for the missing fishermen and their trawlers.

"They have so far drawn a blank," he added.

Three people were killed and 200 fishermen were missing on Wednesday in neighbouring Bangladesh in the cyclone.

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