Strong currents keep most ferries away

Vehicles pile up at Paturia

Most of the ferry boats are finding it difficult to negotiate the strong currents of the mighty Padma in spate. This has created a massive pile up of vehicles on either side of the river at Paturia and Daulatdia terminals. The ferry terminal is also facing additional pressure, as ferry services on the Shimulia-Kewrakandi route have been suspended due to lack of navigability. Hundreds of passengers, particularly children and women, are suffering long hours at Paturia and Daulatdia. Several hundred trucks, buses and cars heading towards the southern districts and the capital have been stranded at Paturia and Daulatdia ferry ghats since Monday night. There are long lines of vehicles -- stretching at least 5 km at Paturia and 4 km at Daulatdia. A total of 19 ferry boats are at the Paturia-Daulatdia ferry terminals. Three of them have been sent to the dockyard for repairs, deputy general manager of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), Paturia Ghat, Sheikh Mohammad Nasim, told The Independent. “Most of the boats are unable to cope with the strong currents. Only eight-nine ferries are carrying buses, trucks and other vehicles, while six-seven are lying idle,” he said in reply to a query. He further said that more than 700 buses, trucks and other vehicles are waiting on either side of the Padma -- around 500 at Paturia and 250 at Dauladia. “Normally, it takes 30-40 minutes to cross the river. Now a ferry is taking 90-120 minutes due to strong currents,” Nasim said. Only two utility ferries, Kusumkoli and Camellia, are plying on the Shimulia-Kewrakandi ferry route to carry stranded trucks only, Ashekuzzaman, deputy general manager of the BIWTC, Mawa Ghat, said. “We have no idea when the route will become fully operational again,” he added. According to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, the government has decided to get the Chinese company working on the Padma Bridge to dredge the channel to restore the Shimulia-Kewrakandi ferry route.

Strong currents keep most ferries away

Vehicles pile up at Paturia

Most of the ferry boats are finding it difficult to negotiate the strong currents of the mighty Padma in spate. This has created a massive pile up of vehicles on either side of the river at Paturia and Daulatdia terminals. The ferry terminal is also facing additional pressure, as ferry services on the Shimulia-Kewrakandi route have been suspended due to lack of navigability. Hundreds of passengers, particularly children and women, are suffering long hours at Paturia and Daulatdia. Several hundred trucks, buses and cars heading towards the southern districts and the capital have been stranded at Paturia and Daulatdia ferry ghats since Monday night. There are long lines of vehicles -- stretching at least 5 km at Paturia and 4 km at Daulatdia. A total of 19 ferry boats are at the Paturia-Daulatdia ferry terminals. Three of them have been sent to the dockyard for repairs, deputy general manager of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), Paturia Ghat, Sheikh Mohammad Nasim, told The Independent. Most of the boats are unable to cope with the strong currents. Only eight-nine ferries are carrying buses, trucks and other vehicles, while six-seven are lying idle, he said in reply to a query. He further said that more than 700 buses, trucks and other vehicles are waiting on either side of the Padma -- around 500 at Paturia and 250 at Dauladia. Normally, it takes 30-40 minutes to cross the river. Now a ferry is taking 90-120 minutes due to strong currents, Nasim said. Only two utility ferries, Kusumkoli and Camellia, are plying on the Shimulia-Kewrakandi ferry route to carry stranded trucks only, Ashekuzzaman, deputy general manager of the BIWTC, Mawa Ghat, said. We have no idea when the route will become fully operational again, he added. According to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, the government has decided to get the Chinese company working on the Padma Bridge to dredge the channel to restore the Shimulia-Kewrakandi ferry route.