Kolkata: A Bangladeshi barge, laden with fly ash, developed a mechanical snag and met with an accident in the Muriganga near Ghoramara Island on Wednesday afternoon, narrowly escaping complete sinking. While all the 11 crew members on board were rescued in an emergency operation, the incident set off fears of fly ash contamination with water and a consequent threat to the aquatic biodiversity.
MV Tamjid Nasir left Budge Budge two days earlier and was on the way to Khulna in Bangladesh. After crossing Kachuberia Ghat and while navigating the shipping channel between Kakdwip and the Muriganga char, the vessel reportedly developed a mechanical fault, leading to it lurching on one side and ramming into a sandhead on its right. In the impact, a breach appeared in the hull, leading to water rushing in rapidly. Shortly, nearly 70% of the vessel sank, spreading panic among crew members. A rescue team from the Sagar Police Station, led by OC Arpan Nayek, reached the spot and rescued all 11 crew members from the sinking barge. Temporary arrangements for food and shelter were made for them on a boat in the river. They were later shifted to another Bangladeshi vessel and sent towards Namkhana.
However, the bigger environmental concerns cannot be entirely ruled out. "Fly ash is known to contain heavy metals. If fly ash mixes with river water, it can enter the food chain through the aquatic ecosystem. This means the contaminants may pass from water to fish and eventually to humans," said Debashish De, principal scientist and head, Kakdwip Research Centre, ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture. The presence of heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic, chromium, and zinc—especially when they occur together—can pose severe environmental and public health risks, he added. The contamination can lead to various health problems and even cancer, in the long run.
Sundarbans Police District SP Koteswara Rao confirmed, "A cargo ship from Kolkata port to Bangladesh suddenly sank due to a mechanical malfunction between Ghoramara Island and Kachuberia. The Sagar police safely rescued all the people on board the ship." Sagar BDO Kanaiya Kumar Rai said immediate steps were taken on receiving news of the barge. "Even as we kept a watch, alerted police. Cops took prompt, necessary measures," he said.
Officials from the agency concerned visited the site to assess the extent of damage. Authorities are now deliberating on plans to salvage the barge and remove the fly ash cargo.
Raising concerns about repeated accidents in the area, Satinath Patra, secretary of a fishermen's organisation, said, "Repeated mishaps are causing river pollution. The level of siltation in the river is increasing."