Colombo, Mar 3: The Sri Lankan Navy has rescued 71 Burmese and Bangladeshi migrants from a wooden trawler adrift in the Bay of Bengal and found that at least 21 of migrants died due to starvation and dehydration.

The wooden trawler was drifting for two weeks after its engine broke down.

According to the Sri Lankan Government, the people onboard were trying to go to Thailand or Malaysia.

A Navy spokesperson said that they were alerted by fishermen about the vessel. (ANI)