Scores untraced in Assam ferry tragedy; Bangladesh help enlisted in search ops

Guwahati, May 1: An estimated 200 people remained untraced since yesterday’s ferry accident in theBrahmaputra river in westernAssam’s Dhubri district with search and rescue operations by multiple agencies failing to yield any result today.

Bangladeshtroopers across the border had also been alerted for possible survivors, but no positive information had been received from their end.

Full-scale rescue operations were launched by teams of NDRF, BSF and police sincemidnightyesterday and continued uninterrupted throughout the day today.

However, scores of passengers of the ill-fated ferry still remained untraced with the non-availability of exact people on the boat adding to confusion over possible number of victims.

Assam DGP J N Choudhury said 17 bodies had been fished out, which were all recovered by locals last evening itself, and about 100 passengers had swam to safety, of which 10 people sustained injuries.

He stated that 35 people had so far been named missing.

Choudhury was, however, evasive of quoting any figure of how many people were travelling in the ferry.

The boat was hit by a cyclonic storm while preparing to dock at Medertari ghat in Dhubri last afternoon. It was reported to be carrying 300-350 passengers, which was much beyond its capacity.

The BSF, which had been engaged in rescue operations since last night, had also established contact with the Border Guard, Bangladesh (BGB) at the highest level atDhakaand also with the BGB Sector Commander of Rangpur and Battalion Commander at Kurigram.

“The BGB has been requested to sensitize their riverine BOPs for carrying out search for survivors and look for the dead bodies and make immediate arrangements to hand over the same to BSF, ” a BSF release said.

The force had already sensitised all its Border Outposts (BOPs) of 22 and 162 battalions to look for survivors and search for bodies.

The BSF had also established a helpline number for information on the accident.

Local television reports this morning said a fisherman spotted some bodies floating insideBangladeshwaters, though no official confirmation had been received yet.

The international border is a few km away from the accident site.

“TheBangladeshgovernment has already been contacted and they have assured of all help and assistance, “AssamChief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

While not speculating on casualty figures, he said, ” Many are feared dead. ” The Chief Minister further said an inquiry had been ordered into the mishap, though the focus was on search and rescue operations at present.

The ferry was suspected to have hit a spur near the bank, which broke the boat.

Damaged parts of the boat were recovered by the NDRF today. Several state Ministers reached the site of the ferry accident this morning to supervise the rescue operations on the instructions of the Chief Minister.

The Central government as well as state government had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to next to kin of those deceased.

The state government had also announced Rs 50,000 one-time assistance to those injured and free-of-cost treatment for those hospitalised.

Legislators of Opposition AIUDF and AGP, number 18 and 10 respectively, had offered their one month salary as help for the families of those killed in the accident.

PM announces assistance for Assam boat tragedy victims

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced an ex-gratia assistance to the families of those who lost their lives in the boat tragedy on theBrahmaputra river inAssam.

Over 100 people were feared killed after a ferry carrying around 250 passengers capsized in theBrahmaputrariver in Dhubri district yesterday afternoon following a cyclonic storm.

An assistance of Rs two lakh has been announced for the next of kin of each of the deceased in the tragedy from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, according to a press release issued by the PMO.

The Prime Minister earlier spoke to AssamChief Minister Tarun Gogoi and offered all possible help to the state government in the relief operations. (UNI)