Ferry loaded with vehicles sinks in Paturia

A ferry carrying several vehicles has capsized in the Padma River after a collision with a cargo ship near the Paturia terminal in Manikganj.

The incident, involving the BIWTC-operated Rajanigandha-7 ferry, occurred around 8:15 am on Wednesday near Paturia's terminal No. 5, according to Anwarul Islam, an official from the Fire Service.

Ferry loaded with vehicles sinks in Manikganj's Paturia

The utility ferry was anchored near the terminal with at least seven trucks aboard when it was struck by a small cargo ship, according to State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury. The ferry's assistant driver is currently missing, he said.

“I haven't received any information indicating there were passengers other than the truck workers and ferry crew. All of them have been rescued, except for the assistant driver of the ferry, who remains unaccounted for."

Abdus Salam, assistant general manager of BIWTC at Paturia, said there were nine vehicles on board the ferry.

The vessel left the Daulatdia terminal for Paturia around 1 am but was stranded mid-river due to heavy fog, he said. The ferry resumed its journey in the morning but was involved in the accident before it could dock at the jetty.

However, Nazmul Hasan, a truck owner who was on the ferry, refuted the official narrative. "The ferry wasn’t hit by any cargo boat. Instead, water started seeping in from below, causing the ferry to sink. Some people, including myself, were rescued by a trawler."

Shahidul Islam, another truck worker, attributed the sinking to the ferry crew's negligence. "The ferry sank about 200 metres from the wharf. Water was leaking in from below, but the crew did not alert anyone," he said.

RESCUE EFFORTS UNDERWAY:

Two BIWTA rescue vessels have been dispatched to assist in the rescue efforts for the submerged ferry, according to Jahangir Alam, a spokesman for the shipping ministry.

A team from the Aricha river port is conducting a rescue operation. Another Fire Service diving team from Dhaka's Siddique Bazar was also deployed to assist.

BIWTA Chairman Commodore Arif Ahmed Mostafa, along with senior officials, have also made their way to the location to oversee the rescue efforts.

According to Anwarul, six people have been rescued so far, and there are no reported casualties.

A search operation is underway to find the ferry's second driver, 39-year-old Humayun Kabir, said Talha bin Jassim, an officer of the Fire Service Central Media Cell.

"After the ferry overturned, a large portion of it remained afloat for a while before sinking completely. The Fire Service subsequently arrived at the scene and rescued six people."

Previously, a Ro-Ro ferry carrying 17 trucks, one car, and eight motorcycles had capsized at the Daulatdia terminal in October, 2021.