More than 2,000 passengers have been forced to get off from a launch before reaching their destination due to technical glitch on Sunday afternoon.
The passengers were evacuated at Kaliganj launch terminal in Barisal after bottom of the triple-decker launch MV Karnafuli-1 leaked while crossing the Meghna River.
Mehendiganj police station Sub-Inspector Ashim Kumar Shikdar confirmed about the leakage of the launch.
He said: “Some seven to eight passengers sustained minor injuries while they were being evacuated hurriedly from the vessel around 1:35pm.”
The launch owned by Md Haji Salahuddin of Brothers Navigation sails on Dhaka-Daulatkhan route of Bhola, according to Shahidul Islam, deputy director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and Barisal River Port officer.
The official said, “It is licensed to carry a total of 700 passengers but it left Dhaka Sadarghat on special trip to Daulatkhan with more than 2,000 passengers around 7:30am.”
“The safely evacuated passengers have left Kailganj terminal by alternative transports,” the Barisal port officer told the Dhaka Tribune.
Launch Supervisor Milon Mia said the crew members anchored the vessel at the Kaliganj terminal after they noticed the leakage.
Ujjal Kumar Dey, Mehendiganj police station officer-in-charge, said the launch will be kept at Kaliganj terminal till further order from higher authorities.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
