Rajanigandha salvaged a week after capsizing

Rajanigandha, a ferry which capsized in the Padma River on January 17, was salvaged late on Wednesday, after a week's effort by several rescue vessels.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Aricha office DGM Shah Khaled Newaz said, "Rescue vessel Prottoy reached the spot and started attempting to salvage the ferry at 3pm on Friday. Rajanigandha was finally salvaged at around 11:30pm on Wednesday. Additionally, the nine trucks that drowned along with the ferry were also salvaged."

The ferry was anchored at the Solar Panel Project area east of the Paturia Ghat.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Additional Director Abdul Salam said the delay in salvaging the ferry was caused due to silt gathering on top of the capsized vessel.

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).

The body of the ferry's second engine master Humayun Kabir was recovered from the Bahadurpur area of Harirampur Upazila under the Manikganj district on Monday afternoon.

/KN/