An over-loaded ferry with seven loaded trucks, two pick ups and one micro-bus capsized in the Madhumati river near the pontoon of Kalna ferry ghat at Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj early Thursday.Hundreds of buses, trucks and other transports were seen waiting on both sides of the river as the ferry services remained suspended following the accident.Soon after the ferry anchored at Kalna terminal, it sank in the river along with a portion of pontoon around 5 AM , BIWTA sources said. “The ferry, which is in bad condition, was overloaded which might be the reason behind the accident,” said Mojammel Haque, sub-divisional engineer of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).A rescue vessel has already started for the place of accident from Barisal to salvage the ferry. No casualty was however, reported in this connection. The ferry capsized while unloading the trucks at the jetty.District Roads and Highways Department Executive Engineer Samiron Roy told the media “Two rescue cranes are on way to the spot from Barisal and Gopalganj.”Rescue operation will begin as soon as the cranes reach the place of accident, he added.Vehicular movement remains halted on Dhaka-Jessore highway in the area due to the ferry capsize. Authorities are trying to install the engine on another ferry to resume the ferry service, he said.Mizanur Rahman, Superintendent of Police (SP), Gopalganj talking to The New Nation on Thursday evening said that Additional Superintendent of Police and Office in Charge of Kashiani thana have visited the place of accident for an on the spot assessment of the situation. Responding to a question he said that there was no report of casualty in the ferry capsize. Efforts for rescue of the sunken ferry, he said, were in progress.
