Rajanigandha remains underwater 5days after capsizing

Rajanigandha, a ferry which capsized in the Padma River on January 17, remains submerged as of Monday, although it is likely to be salvaged by afternoon, the people concerned have said.

Meanwhile, the ferry's assistant master Humayun Kabir also remains missing.

Rescue vessels Hamza, Rustam, and Prottoy have so far tried and failed to salvage the drowned ferry. "Jhinai-1" reached Paturia on Sunday evening. It has already salvaged two trucks which were onboard the capsized ferry.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation Aricha office DGM Shah Khaled Newaz said, "The weight of the capsized ferry was more than the capacity of rescue vessels Hamza and Rustam. So they failed to salvage the ferry. Now that Jhinai-1 has joined the rescue operation, BIWTA is moving to salvage the ferry."

Utility ferry Rajanigandha left from Daulatdia at around midnight on Wednesday (January 17) with 9 trucks. As the fog thickened, the ferry anchored in mid-river. It started towards Paturia again after 8am on Wednesday. It collided with a bulkhead vessel near Ferry Ghat no 5 of Paturia and capsized. Ten people were rescued. Four of them swam to the shore and six were rescued by the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD).

/KN/