Ferry with 9 loaded trucks capsizes in Padma amid heavy fog

A ferry "Rajanigandha" carrying nine loaded trucks capsized in the Padma river in Manikganj's Paturia early this morning amid heavy fog.

The ferry carrying a few pick-up trucks and covered vans sank in the river around 8:16am as it was crossing the river on the Daulatdia-Paturia route, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defence.

"Ten people have been rescued so far. Among them, four swam to the shore while the fire service rescued the other six," Manikganj Deputy Commissioner Rehena Akter told the media.

Meanwhile, Humayun Kabir, the 39-year-old second engine master of the vessel, remained missing.

How the ferry sank

Hossain, a truck driver on the ferry, said that the ferry left Daulatdia ghat around 12:15am with nine trucks, heading towards Paturia.

"Due to dense fog, the ferry anchored not far from Paturia terminal. The ferry sank around 8:15am as the water level rose," he added.

Abdus Salam, the manager of BIWTC Daulatdia ghat, informed that fog began to set in on this river route from the night, disrupting ferry operations.

"Around 1:30am, the fog became denser, making it impossible to see the ferry route markers and beacon lights," he added.

Rescue operations ongoing

Rescue operations are underway, with the rescue vessel Hamza reaching the scene. No causalities have been reported yet. 

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said a diving team of the Bangladesh Navy joined the rescue operation.

On information, officials of the local fire service rushed to the spot and managed to rescue six people by 8:30am, said duty officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters control room. 

"Rescuer ship Rustam and Prattay are already on the way to recover the ferry," State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury told the media.

Faulty fog lights

Regarding fog lights for ferries, the state minister said those are not powerful enough to see through the dense fog. 

"Cases and investigations regarding the use of improper fog lights in ferries are currently ongoing," he added. 

Ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route remained suspended since 2:30am due to dense fog, Shah Mohammad Khaled Newaz, deputy general manager of the Aricha office of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), said earlier.

He had also said ferry services were not resumed this morning.

Md Salam Hossen, manager of the BIWTC said the Rajanigandha ferry left Daulatdia ghat for Paturia carrying nine vehicles during midnight. But it needed to anchor mid-river due to heavy fog.

He said the ferry started sailing towards Paturia ghat around 8:00am. Later, it sank near terminal number 5.