Capsized ferry ‘Rajanigandha’ yet to be salvaged

The rescue ship ‘Prottoy’ is now on the way to Paturia to conduct a rescue operation as the utility ferry ‘Rajanigandha’ so far could not salvaged from the water for more than fifteen hours as it along with nine covered vans and a pick-up capsized on Wednesday morning.

“It is impossible to rescue the capsized utility ferry by rescue vessel Hamja, so another rescue ship ‘Prottoy’ is being brought from Narayanganj”, said BIWTA Chairman Commodore Arif Ahmed Mostofa. The rescue ship was scheduled to reach the spot by noon, said the BIWTA chief.

The ferry services resumed at around 8am Thursday while the communications on the Paturia-Daulatdia navigation channel were disrupted for several hours on Wednesday due to deep fog.

Meanwhile, the second master of the capsized ferry Humayun Kabir, is still missing while the fire service diver team have started searching to rescue him from 10 am Thursday.

Kabir, also the president of BIWTC Workers Union Aricha region, hailed from Bhandaria upazila of Pirojpur district.

The government has formed two separate probe committees to unearth the reason behind the ferry accident in Paturia.

A utility ferry ‘Rajanigandha’ was capsized in the river Padma located at Paturia near ferry ghat number 5 of Manikganj due to dense fog on Thursday morning.

“The accident happened at around 8:30am when it was carrying nine covered vans and a pickup on board”, said Inspector of Aricha Ferry Services Mohammad Muzibur Rahman.

/KN/