MV Abhijan-10 Fire: Locals blame staffers for loss of lives
Locals, who rescued many passengers after MV Abhijan-10 caught fire early on December 24 in Jhalakathi, said most of the lives perished in the tragedy could have been saved had the launch staffers acted responsibly.
They said after the fire broke out, the driver anchored the launch in Char Bhatarakanda around 2:45am, but the staffers did not tie it with any trees although there were plenty of them within 10 yards. They abandoned the vessel right there, leaving all passengers in danger.
Due to currents, the launch then drifted back into the river and the fire spread.
It happened so fast that only a few passengers could get down or swim ashore, locals of the char told The Daily Star yesterday.
"There were plenty of trees within 10 yards of where the launch was anchored. The staffers could easily throw a rope and tied the launch with a tree. All passengers then could have moved to safety," said Shohag Mollah, one of the locals who rushed to help the passengers that night.
Dalim Begum, wife of local union parishad member Sobuj Khan, said they woke up hearing people's cry for help. "At first, we thought our village was attacked by robbers. I asked my husband not to go out but he rushed outside and saw the launch burning."
Shamim Sheikh, who lives in the char, said, "Had the launch been anchored for 15 minutes, all passengers could have been rescued safely."
He said as the burning launch was drifting back into the river, locals rushed near it with engine boats amid dense fog. "But the rescue work was extremely difficult as the fire was fierce."
Many passengers jumped in the river and were rescued by boats brought by locals, he said.
Later, the rescued passengers were given shelter and clothes in the char, he said.
Meanwhile, another person burnt in the fire died of her injuries at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the capital yesterday evening.
With her, at least 46 people have died in the incident. Several dozens still remain missing.
The dead is Shahinur Khatun Shwapna, 45, a resident of Sharisamuri village in Barguna's Betagi upazila.
Her husband and daughter, who also suffered burns, were undergoing treatment at the burn institute.
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