Tourist boat catches fire in Sundarbans

A tourist boat caught fire in Chandpai range of the Sundarbans this evening. Last reported, there was no immediate news of casualties and attempts were on to douse flames.

Our Bagerhat correspondent reports, engine-driven MV Pelican-1, carrying at least 26 passengers on holiday arrangement of Sundarban Holiday caught fire around 6:30pm.

“All the 26 tourists are safe,” said Zahir Uddin Ahmed, Khulna zone forest conservator, told The Daily Star. “The fire broke out from one of the cabins and later spread elsewhere.”

The boat caught fire near Harbaria forest camp, said Saidul Islam, divisional forest officer of east zone. “The tourists were on land when the fire broke out in the boat.”

According to forest conservator Zahir Uddin, a rescue vessel departed from Mongla this evening and was en route to Harbaria to bring back the stranded passengers.

A Bangladesh Coast Guard vessel headed for the spot immediately after receiving news. Attempts were underway to douse the flames. The reason of fire could not be known.