2010 West Bengal ferry sinking explained

2010 West Bengal ferry sinking
Date:30 October 2010
Place:Bhagirathi River, West Bengal, India
Cause:Overcrowding
Participants:220 passengers and crew[1]
Reported Deaths:74+[2]

The 2010 West Bengal Ferry Sinking was an incident which occurred on Saturday, 30 October 2010, when an over-crowded ferry carrying Muslim pilgrims sank after hitting a sand bank on the Bhagirathi River in the Indian state of West Bengal.[3] Thus far at least 74 bodies have been recovered, with many more missing, feared swept downstream.[4]

Accident

The ferry, which had a listed capacity of 60,[5] capsized and sank in rough waters whilst ferrying Muslim pilgrims back from a religious festival down the Bhagirathi River. It is believed up to 150 people, more than double the capacity, were on the boat at the time.[6]

The Indian Navy was called in to help with the rescue, with Navy divers and local fishermen helping to rescue survivors from the river as well as collect deceased bodies.[7] [8]

A protest was staged on a jetty near the accident site by frustrated locals who believe the government was too slow to react to help with the disaster,[9] despite the Navy's committing a helicopter as well as personnel to help look in case against all likelihood there are more survivors.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: India ferry disaster kills scores. November 2, 2010. BBC News. 3 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101103045250/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11679012. 3 November 2010 . live.
  2. Web site: India ferry disaster kills scores. November 2, 2010. BBC News. 3 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101103045250/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11679012. 3 November 2010 . live.
  3. Web site: Death toll in India ferry accident at 41. November 1, 2010. Cape Argus. 2 November 2010.
  4. Web site: WB: 18 dead as boat capsizes in Buriganga river. 30 October 2010. OneIndia. 2 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20121007215317/http://news.oneindia.in/2010/10/31/wb-18-drowned-as-boat-capsizes.html. October 7, 2012. live.
  5. Web site: Back to Google News At least 16 dead, 70 missing as Indian ferry sinks. https://archive.today/20120529115402/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hAiL_Fk_JialyaEHnGfrJI0TjKrQ?docId=CNG.f64a3c11c51ce2fdec300da4be7d77e5.8e1. dead. May 29, 2012. 31 October 2010. AFP. 2 November 2010.
  6. Web site: Ferry Accident kills 30 in West Bengal. November 2, 2010. News24. 2 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101102161619/http://www.news24.com/World/News/Ferry-sinking-Death-toll-at-62-20101101. 2 November 2010 . live.
  7. Web site: India Ferry Accident Kills 50. https://archive.today/20120917180834/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/India-Ferry-Accident-Kills-50---106455348.html. dead. 17 September 2012. 1 November 2010. VOANews. 2 November 2010.
  8. Web site: Death toll now 20 in India boat sinking. November 1, 2010. Sydney Morning Herald. 2 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101106090509/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/death-toll-now-20-in-india-boat-sinking-20101031-178g8.html. 6 November 2010 . live.
  9. Web site: Death toll hits 50 in Indian ferry sinking. November 2, 2010. Sydney Morning Herald. 2 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101207061020/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/death-toll-hits-50-in-indian-ferry-sinking-20101102-17am6.html. 7 December 2010 . live.
  10. Web site: 18 dead in India ferry sinking. November 1, 2010. News.com.au. 2 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101101103053/http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/dead-in-india-ferry-sinking/story-e6frfku0-1225945797816. 1 November 2010 . live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "2010 West Bengal ferry sinking".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.