Padma bridge pillar’s pile cap damaged after being hit by ferry; 4-5 passengers injured

A ferry bound for Munshiganj’s Shimulia ghat hit pillar no. 10 of the Padma bridge this evening, damaging the pillar’s pile cap.

The rear of Ro Ro ferry Bir Shrestha Jahangir was also damaged during the incident, our Munshiganj correspondent reports.

Four or five passengers of a car on board the ferry were also injured in the incident.

Confirming the incident, Mawa Naval Police Officer-in-charge Sirajul Kabir said the incident occurred around 6:30pm when the ferry was going to Shimulia ghat from Madaripur’s Banglabazar.

Padma Bridge project manager Dewan Md Abdul Quader said the pillar’s pile cap was damaged in the incident.

The Ferry Master Delwar Hossain said, “The ferry did not hit the pillar. It only touched it. The incident took place when the ferry tried to avoid a trawler which came in front of the ferry.

The ferry hit the pillar after the driver momentarily lost control due to the strong current of the Padma river, said Munshiganj Assistant Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Rasel Manir.

A goods-laden truck onboard the ferry fell on a private car during the incident, he said, adding that several people including a woman and her child were injured.

They were taken to a hospital, he added.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation Chairman Syed Md Tajul Islam said a ferry was overtaking a trawler in between pillars no. 10 and 11. The rear of the ferry collided with one of the pillars as it tried to avoid hitting the trawler, which was carrying four to five passengers.

A truck fell on a private car and four to five people onboard the car sustained injuries, he said, adding that a crack has developed in ferry.

Padma Bridge project manager Dewan Md Abdul Quader also confirmed the incident.

Last July, two such incidents occurred involving the Padma bridge. On July 20, the lower part of Ro Ro ferry Shah Makhdum damaged due to collision with a pillar of the bridge.

On July 23, Ro Ro ferry Shah Jalal hit departed from Banglabazar ghat with another pillar and it was damaged during the incident.

thedailystar

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