An airforce helicopter, a naval ship and coastguard, fire service personnel carry on rescue operation after Munshiganj-bound launch MV Pinak capsized due to a strong current in the Padma near Mawa jetty on Monday morning. (Inset) A mobile grab of how the launch capsized. banglar chokh At least 100 passengers went missing after a launch carrying over 200 passengers capsized in the turgid waters of the Padma near Mawa ferry ghat [jetty] in Louhajang upazila of Munshiganj on Monday morning. Two bodies have been recovered till 3:40pm, police said. Unofficial sources, however, claimed at least 14 bodies were recovered from the mighty river. The rescuers are yet to identify the exact location of the sunken vessel till the filing of this report at 8:45pm. One of deceased was identified as Hira, 22, a resident of Goatola village of Shibchar upazila under Madaripur district while the other remained unidentified. Local people have so far rescued at least 44 passengers from the river while many still remain missing. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the authorities concerned to make an all-out effort to rescue the launch. Two investigation committees have been formed to investigate the incident. The air of Mawa has been thick with tears as grieving relatives of the passengers gathered there in search of their near and dear ones. Witnesses said the accident took place when the launch, MV Pinak-6, carrying over 200 passengers from Kaorakandi ghat capsized at Hajra point in the river, 800 yards off Mawa jetty, around 11:00am due to a strong current. Locals rescued scores of passengers using speedboats while some managed to swim ashore. Survivor Mimjal Islam said, “While the launch was heading towards Mawa jetty, it suddenly tilted to one side and sank quickly.” Another person claimed the launch sank because of an overload of passengers. Divers from fire brigade and civil defence, navy and coastguard reached the spot and started conducting rescue operation, but strong current was hampering their operation. Most of the passengers hailed from Madaripur, Shariatpur, Faridpur and Gopalganj districts. It is not clear how many passengers were being carried by the wrecked launch and are rescued. However, officials concerned are giving contradictory information about the number of passengers. Abdul Alim, assistant manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, said the launch capsized with 150 passengers on board and 50 passengers were rescued so far. However, Louhajang UNO Mohammad Khalequzzaman said the launch was carrying over 300 passengers. On the other hand, Iqbal Hossain, an official of Launch Owners’ Association, said the launch was carrying 250 passengers. Kutub Uddin, assistant police super of Sreenagar circle said some 150-200 passengers might have been inside the launch during the accident. Talking to journalists around 1:00pm, Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner Md Saiful Hasan said 44 passengers were rescued alive while many others remained missing. RESCUE OPERATION Navy headquarters sources said 12 naval divers rushed to the spot within one hour of the incident and started the rescue operation. Later, they deployed two more divers, including Capt Nazrul Islam who is leading the team now. Bangladesh Navy also using their latest Side-scan ‘SONAR’ to detect the capsized launch, the sources added. Beside, six members of Bangladesh Navy from Narayanganj also rushed to the spot with a rescue boat while a four-member survey team from Khulna was on the way to join the operation. A helicopter of Rapid Action Battalion was hovering over the river while two platoons of RAB members and a six-member fire service team joined the operation till evening. Rapid Action Battalion has sent a helicopter to strengthen the rescue work, said Mufti Mahmud Khan, director of legal and media wing of Rab headquarters. Later, BIWTA’s rescue vessel MV Rustam headed for Munshiganj from Narayanganj to join the salvage operation. BIWTC director Mohammad Hossain said rescuers were striving to find out the accident black spot with the help of sonar. But they could not identify the place underwater due to strong currents and gigantic waves in the river, he added. Disaster management and relief ministry declared to give Tk 20,000 to the families of each victim who died in the incident. Tofazzal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Louhajang police station, confirmed the matter from the temporary police camp set up at Mawa jetty. The shipping minister and the DC office also declared money for the victims who died in the disaster. But the amount of the money could not be confirmed immediately. LIST OF MISSING PEOPLE The local administration registered names of 88 missing people till 8:00pm. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, upazila administration and Sreenagar and Louhajang police stations are preparing the lists of the dead, missing and rescued individually. TWO PROBE BODIES FORMED Meanwhile, two investigation committees were formed soon after the launch capsized in the Padma. Shipping ministry formed a seven-member probe committee headed by joint secretary Nurur Rahman. Representatives from BIWTA, BIWTC, Mercantile Marine Department and deputy commissioners of Munshiganj and Madaripur districts are members of the committee. Mercantile Marine Department also formed a four-member committee with Engineer and Ship Surveyor Najmul Haq as its head. The committees have been asked to submit their reports within the next 10 working days. PM DIRECTIVE FOR ALL-OUT EFFORTS Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the authorities concerned for making an all-out effort to rescue the capsized launch. PM’s Special Assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil confirmed that army, navy, RAB, coastguard, fire service, BIWTA and local administration have been asked to work sincerely. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan is coordinating the rescue work at the premier’s instruction, he mentioned.
No comments:
Post a Comment