5 killed in Barisal launch accident

At least five passengers of a Barisal-bound steamer, PS Mahsud, were killed on the spot when a Dhaka-bound launch, MV Surovi-7, hit the steamer on the Kirtonkhola river near Barisal city. The victims were all passengers of the staff cabin. Five others were injured in the accident. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), which owns PS Mahsud, estimated the damage to the vessel at over Tk. 5 crore. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has suspended the route permit of MV Surovi-7 and has cancelled all its trips from today onwards. A case has been filed against the owner of the launch, Riazur Rahman, the pilot, and three others.
Idris Hosen Sirazi, the in-charge of PS Mahsud, said the steamer loaded over 600 passengers and left Dhaka ghat on Sunday evening. It loaded more passengers at Chandpur ghat and left at midnight. At around 4am, when the vessel was crossing the Charbaria point on the Kirtonkhola river in Barisal metro area under Kawnia police station, it faced two Dhaka-bound launches—MV Tipu and MV Surovi-7. The vessels on both sides exchanged signals and ran from the right. But Surovi-7, in violation of the signal code, collided with the left paddle of the steamer, killing the five passengers on the spot. The pilot of Surovi-7 later fled the spot with the launch. Four staff cabins, a first-class cabin and the entire paddle on the left side were completely damaged in the accident.
On hearing the news, seven units of the Barisal fire services, Barisal Metropolitan Police, river police and district administration rescued the passengers, and sent them to Barisal ghat on another BIWTC vessel, MV Modhumoti. They later recovered the bodies and sent them to the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) morgue for post-mortem.
The five injured persons were treated at SBMCH. Four bodies were handed over to relatives after Kawnia police station confirmed their identities. Two of the victims were identified as Sima Aktar, daughter of Abdur Rahim of Sutalori village of Bagerhat, and Tamanna, the 12-year-old daughter of Jalal Sikdar of Fakirbari Road of the city. Barisal deputy commissioner (DC) D. Gazi Md. Saifuzaman, who visited the spot, said the district administration formed a five-member inquiry committee headed by ADC (general) Md. Abul Kalam. Barisal port officer Mustafizur Rahman said in order to maintain the double trip scheduled for the Eid passengers, Surovi-7 launch left Barisal ghat at around 3:30am for Dhaka, immediately after the passengers disembarked in Barisal.
BIWTC chairman Md. Mijanur Rahman, who was in Barisal, visited the damaged vessel PS Mahsud. He also visited Barisal Medical College Hospital and talked to the injured persons admitted there. He said the BIWTC’s Barisal station officer, Syed Abul Kalam Azzad, has filed a case as the complainant against five persons, including the owner of MV Surovi-7 Md. Riazur Rahman, in this connection. In the case history, it was mentioned that property worth some Tk. 5 crores has been damaged in the accident. BIWTA chairman Commodore M Mojammel Haque said MV Surovi-7’s route permit has already been suspended and all its trips cancelled.

5 killed in Barisal launch accident

At least five passengers of a Barisal-bound steamer, PS Mahsud, were killed on the spot when a Dhaka-bound launch, MV Surovi-7, hit the steamer on the Kirtonkhola river near Barisal city. The victims were all passengers of the staff cabin. Five others were injured in the accident. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), which owns PS Mahsud, estimated the damage to the vessel at over Tk. 5 crore. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has suspended the route permit of MV Surovi-7 and has cancelled all its trips from today onwards. A case has been filed against the owner of the launch, Riazur Rahman, the pilot, and three others. Idris Hosen Sirazi, the in-charge of PS Mahsud, said the steamer loaded over 600 passengers and left Dhaka ghat on Sunday evening. It loaded more passengers at Chandpur ghat and left at midnight. At around 4am, when the vessel was crossing the Charbaria point on the Kirtonkhola river in Barisal metro area under Kawnia police station, it faced two Dhaka-bound launchesMV Tipu and MV Surovi-7. The vessels on both sides exchanged signals and ran from the right. But Surovi-7, in violation of the signal code, collided with the left paddle of the steamer, killing the five passengers on the spot. The pilot of Surovi-7 later fled the spot with the launch. Four staff cabins, a first-class cabin and the entire paddle on the left side were completely damaged in the accident. On hearing the news, seven units of the Barisal fire services, Barisal Metropolitan Police, river police and district administration rescued the passengers, and sent them to Barisal ghat on another BIWTC vessel, MV Modhumoti. They later recovered the bodies and sent them to the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) morgue for post-mortem. The five injured persons were treated at SBMCH. Four bodies were handed over to relatives after Kawnia police station confirmed their identities. Two of the victims were identified as Sima Aktar, daughter of Abdur Rahim of Sutalori village of Bagerhat, and Tamanna, the 12-year-old daughter of Jalal Sikdar of Fakirbari Road of the city. Barisal deputy commissioner (DC) D. Gazi Md. Saifuzaman, who visited the spot, said the district administration formed a five-member inquiry committee headed by ADC (general) Md. Abul Kalam. Barisal port officer Mustafizur Rahman said in order to maintain the double trip scheduled for the Eid passengers, Surovi-7 launch left Barisal ghat at around 3:30am for Dhaka, immediately after the passengers disembarked in Barisal. BIWTC chairman Md. Mijanur Rahman, who was in Barisal, visited the damaged vessel PS Mahsud. He also visited Barisal Medical College Hospital and talked to the injured persons admitted there. He said the BIWTCs Barisal station officer, Syed Abul Kalam Azzad, has filed a case as the complainant against five persons, including the owner of MV Surovi-7 Md. Riazur Rahman, in this connection. In the case history, it was mentioned that property worth some Tk. 5 crores has been damaged in the accident. BIWTA chairman Commodore M Mojammel Haque said MV Surovi-7s route permit has already been suspended and all its trips cancelled.