Coast Guard vessel hits and sinks five speedboats on Barishal's Kirtankhola, hull of wheat-laden ship cracks
Five speedboats sank after being hit by a Coast Guard vessel in Barishal, and the hull of another ship carrying 300 metric tonnes of wheat cracked. About two truckloads of wheat got wet in the incident.
The accident happened on Friday (30 October) at around 8 am near DC Ghat on the Kirtankhola River in Barishal city. Eyewitnesses said the Coast Guard vessel left Barishal quickly after causing the accident.
According to eyewitnesses, the Coast Guard vessel 'Swadhin Bangla' lost control in the morning. Its impact sank five speedboats that were at the bank of the Kirtankhola near DC Ghat. The vessel then hit a BIWTA ship and struck the food-godown wheat-laden ship named 'DB Papia', which was anchored on the other side. The lower part of that ship cracked and the wheat-laden vessel began to sink.
When the crew of the damaged ship began shouting, local people came and informed the Fire Service. Fire Service personnel pulled the damaged ship to the bank and unloaded the wheat. As water entered the ship right after the accident, about two truckloads of wheat got wet.
Barishal Sadar Upazila Food Controller Md Abu Said said there is wheat worth about Tk one crore on the ship. The wheat was brought from Khulna for the food godown. Sacks of wheat are being removed from the accident-hit ship.
On receiving the news, senior officials of the Barishal administration visited the scene at noon. An investigation committee has been formed over the incident. Efforts are under way to move the damaged wheat very quickly, officials said.
