Assam ferry disaster leaves 200 dead, missing

[angeldemon_007]

I hope the disaster relief measures were taken on time...

 

[farhan_9909]

A very sad news indeed

I hope the missing one are found alive

 

[Capt.Popeye]

What corrupt officials here and in all these river localities(BD etc) allow such ferries to ply on without checks.. and even then..overloaded?
Nobody expects high tech catamarans to replace them.. But establishments like the Cochin yard or others can foray into developing affordable yet reliable vessels for this task and save countless lives.

Oscar, you have a valid point.

But ferry operators in Assam do not even need to go to Cochin to get good boats. There are good boat-yards in Calcutta too. Costs (pricing) is somewhat of an issue. So the local (traditional) boat builders still continue with their trade. Actually the traditional boat-yards turn out very sound designs. In the 1980s I tracked traditional boat builders on the coasts for a photographic project, and on technical grounds found them to be soundly built. For example, I will happily sail a traditional built dhow rather than steel built ships originating from some parts of the world. That does not rule improvements in traditional designs to traditional designs esp w.r.t. Life Saving Appliances. For instance, in this instance; its reported that there were no life-jackets or life-rafts. Which is criminal. Older (and cheaper) forms of Life-rafts can be used like the 'Carley Floats' that were used in WW 2. Life jackets/ flotation aids do not cost much. Last year in Yangon, I saw the flimsy river craft used as 'water taxis' had a flotation aid for every passenger. So why not here?

More than the water-craft themslves, it is the regulations and the lack of their enforcement that is the nub of the problem in this.

 

[joekrish]

Hight of in competence, shamefully the best I can say is RIP.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Is anchoring during a storm safe? Capt.Popeye? or anyone else

I do not necessarily think so. I am not familiar with the Brahmaputra, but I believe that in some places its 5-10 km in its width which is a large expanse of water. Either the boat should not have operated in bad weather, but there is a possibility that this was a sudden squall or nor'wester that occurs at this time of the year, so its onset is sudden.

The indications are that the boat capsized in the storm/squall so it points to a 'stability issue'. Then the report indicates that this ferry was a double-decker. My guess is that the boat was heavily loaded (but stable) to start with. Wnen the squall broke during the passage, the passengers panicked due the tossing and turning and moved around or moved to the upper deck thus causing a stability problem and the boat capsized. Coupled with the lack of Life Saving Appliances, the tragedy magnified.

At sea, its better to try to maneuver and ride out a storm (if one can't avoid it). Actually on receipt of a storm warning, ships in harbor may actually cast off from the dock or heave up the anchor and proceed to sea and ride out the storm. A decision to do that depends on many factors.

 

[harpoon]

What corrupt officials here and in all these river localities(BD etc) allow such ferries to ply on without checks.. and even then..overloaded?
Nobody expects high tech catamarans to replace them.. But establishments like the Cochin yard or others can foray into developing affordable yet reliable vessels for this task and save countless lives.

Or better build some bridges and weather proof roads.

At sea, its better to try to maneuver and ride out a storm (if one can't avoid it). Actually on receipt of a storm warning, ships in harbor may actually cast off from the dock or heave up the anchor and proceed to sea and ride out the storm. A decision to do that depends on many factors.

I heard in Japan when Tsunami warning is given, boats are expected to leave harbour and sail out to sea. Is it true?

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Or better build some bridges and weather proof roads.

Considering the expanse of the Brahmaputra and other major rivers in some parts, its just not worth it. Ferries are much more sensible and a cost-effective option, of course they need to be operated safely.

I heard in Japan when Tsunami warning is given, boats are expected to leave harbour and sail out to sea. Is it true?

Yes, that is true. And the ships do so too. The scientific reason is the amplitude of the waves when they hit the coast. See the tsunami videos to get a feel of that.
Actually that is done not only for Tsunamis but also for Typhoons.

 

[Kesang]

Poor Weather Conditions Takes the Lives of Hundreds

In the worst ferry accident in the country’s North-East, a ferry with 350 people today sank in the turbulent river Brahmaputra in Assam’s Dhubri district amid stormy weather.
Even as rescue efforts are on, 35 bodies are recovered from the river while many are yet to be accounted for.
The accident site falls in the district’s Fakirganj police station adjoining the international border with Bangladesh.
The ferry reportedly broke into two parts dueto overcrowding and hostile weather conditions. The boat was going to Hatsinghimari from Dhubri town. The Assam government has sought help from the BorderSecurity Force for rescue operations but darkness and bad weather are hampering the efforts.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called state Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to convey his condolences and express solidarity with the victims.
The prime minister also assured of all possible assistance in relief work and to the families of the deceased.


Poor Weather Conditions Takes the Lives of Hundreds | Northeast Today

 

[Laughing_soldier]

Rest in peace.

 

[Killswitch]

I remember one of my uncles telling me that "India is the land of no laws". By this he meant that laws are on the books but they are not enforced. India needs a larger, better trained and equipped police force in order to be able to enforce the law. Without this basic coercive arm of government punishing people for breaking laws and endangering others, people stop fearing the law and ignore it almost completely.

Another major problem that causes tragedies such as this is over population. There are too many people and not enough trains/buses/boats to get them around, so people just overload the transports hoping for the best.