Bangladesh
Ferry Accident Patuaria ferry accident: Rescue operation stalled
Dhaka, October 28: The rescue operation has been suspended in the incident of ferry sinking at Paturia in Shibalaya upazila of Manikganj. Authorities suspended the rescue operation around 8:30 pm on Wednesday (October 27) after a 10-and-a-half-hour work. However, 10 trucks are still submerged in the Padma. There are five trucks inside the ferry.
Confirming the matter, Shariful Islam, Executive Engineer (Dredging) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), said the rescue operation started immediately after the sinking of ferry Amanat Shah in Paturia Ferry Ghat area. The rescue ship Hamza took part in the rescue operation. The rescue operation lasted till 8:30 pm.
Four trucks were recovered from inside the ferry. In addition, five sunken trucks have been identified. There are five more trucks inside the ferry. He also said that the rescue operation would be resumed on Thursday (October 28) morning.
Meanwhile, the sunken Shah Amanat ferry has been reported to be 42 years old. Its survey certificate has not been updated. Surprisingly, two ferries with a capacity of 310 tons will work to rescue the 400-ton ferry that sank with 17 cargo trucks and 16 motorcycles.
This information was given by AGM (Marine) Abdus Sattar of Aricha Ferry Terminal of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) on Wednesday (October 26) afternoon.
Nurul Alam, acting chairman of BIWTA, said speed was needed to rescue the ferry. Because the sinking ferry will be rescued by two rescue ships; The capacity of the two is 310 tons (60 tons of Hamza and 250 tons of Prottyoy). But the sunken ferry Amanat Shah will weigh one thousand tons with water inside. He also said that he would hold a meeting with the ferry authorities on how to rescue them.
Eyewitnesses describe the horror: -
Md. Selim Hossain (24), the driver of Afzal Parcel's covered van carrying chemicals from Benapole on the ferry, said, "My car was on the back of the ferry. The car had two wheels on a pontoon and two wheels on the ferry. Looking over; I saw the ferry sinking, my car sinking."
Sushanto, a truck driver on the ferry, said he was supposed to go to Dhaka with newsprint paper. The truck sank in the Padma river in an accident on the way.
Truck driver Amir Hossain, 50, said he was tired of driving all night. After getting on the ferry, he fell asleep in the car. "I didn't know when the ferry sank. I woke up when water got into the car." By then he was in the Padma river with his car. Later he was able to reach the shore with the help of a side trawler.
