Over 700 vehicles stranded at Shimulia ferry ghat

Vessel movements have been suspended in Padma river on Shimulia-Kathalbari ferry route due to rough waves and high current since this noon, prompting hundreds of vehicles to remain stranded at Shimulia ferry ghat.

The Padma has been rough after water level rose and the current in the river increased along with strong wind and high waves, reports our Munshiganj correspondent.

The ferry operations were halted for six hours since midnight today after the ramps of ghat number 1 and 2 were displaced and damaged by the rough waves.

The operations resumed around 6:00am after the damage was repaired this morning, but was suspended again around 1:15pm after ghat number 3 sunk in the water and the other ferries could not operate due to the roughness of the river.

Also, movement of vessels including launches and speedboats have also remained suspended over the same reason since this noon.

Over 700 light and heavy vehicles, including around 50 passenger coaches, have been stranded at Shimulia end of the ferry route since this noon.

Thousands of passengers were going through immense sufferings waiting for the ferry operations to resume till filing of this report around 4:00pm.