300 ferry passengers rescued after 999 call

Around 300 passengers of a ferry on river Padma were saved from drowning yesterday, after a passenger sought help by calling the national emergency helpline following an accident.

The ferry named Ranikhet, carrying nine trucks and six buses on it along with around 300 passengers, was heading towards Kathalbari from Mawa when it had an accident and water started to fill inside it around 10:05am.

A passenger of the ferry named Shohag called 999 and informed them of the ferry's location, Md Sohel Rana, assistant inspector general of police (media and PR), told The Daily Star.

The police official who received the 999 call informed the coastguard, river police and fire service without any delay. Rescuers reached the spot and succeeded in rescuing all 300 passengers of the ferry.

Later, a rescue team of Munshiganj Fire Service Station in Srinagar drained the water from the ferry, the police official added.