Chandpur, Dec 22 (V7N) — Two launches collided head-on on the Meghna River near Chandpur's Harinaghat on Sunday morning due to dense fog, leaving several people injured and both vessels damaged.
Sheikh Abdur Sabur, Sub-Inspector (SI) of the Naval Police Chandpur region, confirmed the incident to the media at 11 a.m.
Eyewitnesses reported that the Prince Awlad-10, en route to Barisal from Dhaka, collided with the MV Kirtankhola-10, traveling from Barisal to Dhaka. The collision caused the fender of the Kirtankhola-10 to break and fall into the river, triggering panic among passengers.
Chandpur Launch Ghat Traffic Inspector Samar Krishna stated that the Prince Awlad-10 was carrying 580 passengers. Following the collision, another launch arrived to assist and safely transport the passengers to their destination.
SI Sheikh Abdur Sabur said, "Although the incident occurred in Chandpur's Meghna River, the exact location is yet to be confirmed. We received a 999 emergency call from a passenger on the Kirtankhola-10, reporting the collision. Fortunately, there were no fatalities or severe injuries, and both launches continued to their respective destinations after the incident."
The dense fog, a common phenomenon during winter, is believed to have significantly reduced visibility, contributing to the collision. Authorities are investigating the incident to ensure safety measures are strengthened in the future.
END/MSS/AJ
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