Ferry capsize in Padma: rescue operation still on

Four of the 14 trucks, capsized with the ro-ro ferry Amanat Shah, have been recovered while rescuers are still trying to salvage the remaining 10 trucks, loaded with goods. 

Divers of rescue vessel Hamza recovered the fourth truck around 8 pm on Wednesday, during the operation which started in the morning, said officials.

Regarding the vehicles on the sunken ferry, Zillur Rahman, Deputy General Manager (DGM) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation's (BIWTC) Aricha office said ferry Amanat Shah left for Paturia Ghat around 9am with 17trucks and a few motorcycles onboard.

"As soon as the ferry anchored at Ghat No 5 of Paturia Ghat, water started rising in the ferry. Three trucks managed to leave the ferry in a rush before the ferry sank with the remaining 14 trucks and motorcycles," he said.

Requesting anonymity, a diver told The Business Standard that the rescue operation was launched shortly after the ferry sank. We didn't find any passenger or vehicle crew from the sunken ferry. As soon as the ferry sank, five trucks fell off the ferry and floated downstream.

"The trucks will be rescued in phases. Four trucks were recovered from inside the ferry," he said adding 10 trucks had not yet been recovered.

Dinomoni Sharma, Dhaka divisional deputy director of the fire service, said the rescue ship had divers from the fire service, Navy and BIWTA.

"They are continuing the rescue operation. We are initially assuming that no one was trapped in the sunken ferry," he added.