Bangladeshi Vessel Sinks in West Bengal’s Muriganga River

Dhaka: A Bangladeshi cargo vessel carrying ash sank after colliding with a sandbank in the Muriganga River in West Bengal, India. According to a state government official, the incident occurred on Monday in the river’s southern 24 Parganas district. The Hindu reported the news.
The official mentioned that after the ash is removed from the vessel, it will set sail for Bangladesh. Local fishermen have raised concerns, claiming that ash is being dispersed into the river from the sunken ship.
Officials from the Indian Inland Waterways Authority (IWAI) confirmed that all crew members of the Bangladeshi vessel are safe. They were rescued and taken to the Sagar Police Station, and efforts to remove the ash-laden cargo are underway to allow the vessel to return to Bangladesh.
IWAI’s regional head, J. J. Reddy, stated that the accident occurred on the night of February 13, when the vessel was returning to Bangladesh with ash on board.
Meanwhile, a Panchayat member from Ghoramara Island shared a video on social media, alleging that ash was being dumped into the Muriganga River from the Bangladeshi ship.
Local fishermen, who rely on the river for their livelihood, have expressed concerns about possible pollution from the incident.
A Kolkata Port official clarified that no port-bound vessels usually navigate through that channel of the Muriganga River, ensuring that port operations are not at risk.