Ferry Disaster Averted by Timely Action

On November 23, the 350 passengers of a ferry on the Muri Ganga River had a close call in a collision near Sagar Island, due south of Kolkata, India.

Three Bangladeshi oil tankers under way from Kolkata were passing ahead of the ferry, and she tried to cross ahead of the final tanker in the line. In response, the tanker lowered its speed and signaled several times that the ferry was standing into danger, but the passenger vessel continued on and was struck. Local media reports that the captain of the ferry ignored the tankers' danger signals and increased his speed prior to the collision.

Thanks to the timely action of the tanker's watch, the ferry sustained only minimal damage with no injuries or loss of life. Several passengers lost belongings in the accident but no further casualties were reported.

A group of passengers attempted to assault the captain of the ferry, Subodh Bhuian, but he was rescued by others aboard. Upon reaching dock on Sagar Island, the captain was suspended from his duties by local authorities. Media report that alcohol was an alleged factor in the accident.

The tanker and ferry were not named in local reports.

Ferry accidents with multiple loss of life are fairly common in India and Bangladesh. In August, a ferry in the state of Kerala was cut in two by a fishing boat, with eight dead, and in February a ferry collision in central Bangladesh killed about 70 of the 150 people on board.

 

    Slideshow of February collision in Bangladesh (viewer discretion advised)