2010 West Bengal ferry sinking
Date30 October 2010
LocationBhagirathi River, West Bengal, India
Coordinates24°11′13″N 88°16′03″E / 24.186828°N 88.267486°E / 24.186828; 88.267486
CauseOvercrowding
Participants220 passengers and crew[1]
Deaths74+[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]

References

  1. ↑ "India ferry disaster kills scores". BBC News. November 2, 2010. Archived from the original on 3 November 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  2. ↑ "India ferry disaster kills scores". BBC News. November 2, 2010. Archived from the original on 3 November 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  3. ↑ "Death toll in India ferry accident at 41". Cape Argus. November 1, 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "WB: 18 dead as boat capsizes in Buriganga river". OneIndia. 30 October 2010. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  5. ↑ "Back to Google News At least 16 dead, 70 missing as Indian ferry sinks". AFP. 31 October 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  6. ↑ "Ferry Accident kills 30 in West Bengal". News24. November 2, 2010. Archived from the original on 2 November 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  7. ↑ "India Ferry Accident Kills 50". VOANews. 1 November 2010. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  8. ↑ "Death toll now 20 in India boat sinking". Sydney Morning Herald. November 1, 2010. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  9. ↑ "Death toll hits 50 in Indian ferry sinking". Sydney Morning Herald. November 2, 2010. Archived from the original on 7 December 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  10. ↑ "18 dead in India ferry sinking". News.com.au. November 1, 2010. Archived from the original on 1 November 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
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