MADARIPUR: While the flooding season is yet to be over, the ferry movement on the Kawrakandi-Mawa route was disrupted for hours on Sunday night and Monday after two ferries ran aground for an early loss of navigability in the mighty river Padma.     

Playing ferries on this alternative route resumed at around 1:30pm Monday after over five hours of suspension since 8am, said a ferry-ghat official.

Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the route since 8:00am as a ferry was stuck on one of the shoals formed in the river for loss of navigability in the Padma, after another nighttime disruption.  

Thousands of passengers on the two sides of the route faced abject misery for the ferry disruption and severe traffic jams.

Ashiquzzaman, AGM of Mawa zone of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, told banglanews24.com.bd that this alternative channel was opened for ferry movement as all previous channels were shut down due to huge shoals formed in the river.  

Kawrakandi ghat authorities told the news agency that the Ro-Ro ferry Bhasa Shahid Barkat in Naodoba channel on the Kawrakandi-Mawa route ran aground at 8 pm Sunday, disrupting the entire ferry traffic from 11 pm.

The water route turned normal after the salvage of the ferry at 3 am. But, again in the morning, the Raniganj ferry got stuck in the same channel, leading to suspension of all ferry movement since 8 am.

Pachpar highway police camp sergeant Md Asadul Islam said the suspension of ferry movement on the Kawrakandi-Mawa route caused severe traffic jams and untold sufferings for the passengers on both sides.

“Additional police forces were deployed to avoid any untoward situation at the ghat,” he added.

BDST: 1522 HRS, AUG 16, 2010