Fog disrupts ferry serives at Daulatdia-Paturia
Special Correspondent
Dense fog formed on the Padma early yesterday, disrupting the movement of ferry boats plying across the width of the river between Daulatdia and Paturia for eight hours. Five boats were stranded mid-river, causing long tailbacks on both sides of the river. BIWTC sources said that the ferry services were shut down along with other boats between 3am and 11am yesterday. The thick fog reduced the visibility, forcing five ferries, hauling about 40 vehicles, to cast anchor mid- stream. The ferries were carrying 40 night coaches, 15 loaded trucks, 15 cars and about 1,300 people.
After the ferries stopped in the middle of the river, their passengers and crew had to face immense difficulties in the chilly wind. It was most difficult for women and children who were returning to the capital on the night coaches. The roads leading to the ferry terminals were jammed with long rows of vehicles gathered for the weekend. The congestion stretched for about 4-km on the Dhaka-Aricha highway to Paturia, witnesses reported. On the other side, the congestion stretched for about 7 km towards Daulatdia.
