Coal-laden vessel not salvaged 3 days after it sank in Sundarbans

No step has yet been taken to salvage a coal-laden vessel which sank three days ago in Pashur River in Bagerhat’s Mongla upazila near the Sundarbans. ‘MV Zia Raj’, carrying 510 tonnes of coal, ran aground on Wednesday near Chandpai Range in Sundarbans East Zone, threatening to contaminate the river water.
Siltation has already started covering parts of the sunken vessel due to the strong tide in the river.
On Friday, officials of the Forest Department collected samples of the coal from the capsized ship and the three-member probe body of the department also submitted its report to the DFO.
Assistant Conservator of Forest (Chandpai Range) M Belayet Hossain, who is the head of the probe body, said it was found during the investigation that ‘MV Zia Raj’ collided with another cargo vessel before running aground on a shoal. The collision also led to a crack on the front side of the vessel and it capsized later.
Though the crew tried to prevent the water seepage into the vessel, they failed and it sank due to ineptness and negligence of the vessel’s master, he said.
The probe body also recommended banning movement of commercial ships through the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, Belayet Hossain added.
End/AR/Oct/30/2015/
- biplab