B’desh barge with fly ash sinks in Bengal, sparks green worry
Times of India | 15 February 2025
12 Kolkata: The hull of a Bangladeshi barge carrying fly ash that had got stranded after hitting a sandbar near Ghoramara island on Thursday afternoon cracked and nearly split the vessel in two halves on Friday, forcing the crew to abandon it. The vessel gradually sank, triggering environmental concern over oil spill and fly ash contamination.
Environmental activists and local fishermen fear that if the oil and fly ash spills into the water, it will affect fish populations in the area and severely impact livelihoods of fishermen.
However, Kakdwip Research Centre of the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture scientist and regional head Debasish De allayed fears of long-term environmental damage.
"There will be some impact but given that the water body is vast, the sinking of a barge may not significantly affect the water quality. The presence of heavy metals like lead and arsenic could cause some damage. In this case, the pH levels of the water might rise, depending on the quantity of pollutants. It is possible that fish might avoid the area for a few days, but eventually, the situation should stabilise."
The continuous sound of alarm sirens and distress calls from the stranded crew had initially alerted Ghoramara residents. They had initially rushed to the scene to rescue those in danger. Later, they returned with food and essential supplies. Among those involved in the relief efforts were Ambia Khatun Bibi, the head of Ghoramara's women's group, and her husband, Farooq Ahmed. The duo visited the accident site on Friday. They also went to the spot, where the rescued individuals were taken, ensuring their well-being.
The condition of the vessel deteriorated significantly after being stranded for over 26 hours. During high tide, water entered the vessel, causing the rear section, including the cabin area, to sink further. Two machines are currently being used to pump out the accumulated water.
Sundarbans SP Koteswar Rao said, "We are closely monitoring the entire situation and keeping the district magistrate informed at regular intervals. There were 12 crew members aboard, all of whom have been rescued and are now being housed at the flood centre in Sagar Island, where they are receiving food and medical care from the district administration. We are also in contact with their agency to ensure that their engineers and mechanics arrive as soon as possible. We have heard that some engineers from the agency reached the site on Friday afternoon. It is likely that they will move the vessel, but the final decision rests with the engineers. We have informed the concerned authorities to take precautions so that the fly ash does not spill into the river." "I was among those who went to rescue the stranded crew yesterday (Thursday). When I reached the site, I saw clouds of fly ash floating inside the ship. Additionally, there were rows of oil drums stacked inside the vessel, raising further concerns,"said a local fisherman, Mohan Maity.
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