PATURIA, Aug 08 (V7N) – The Paturia launch terminal in the Shibaloy upazila of Manikganj district has collapsed into the Padma River due to strong currents, disrupting all launch services on the vital Paturia-Daulatdia route. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, forcing passengers to switch to ferries and causing significant travel disruptions between Dhaka and 21 southwestern districts.

Panna Lal, the launch terminal supervisor, stated that one jetty collapsed at approximately 3 pm, followed by another two hours later. The collapse was caused by severe erosion beneath the jetty pillars, leading to the structures sinking into the river. This has resulted in the suspension of all launch services, stranding numerous commuters.

According to locals, this problem is a recurring issue during the monsoon season, and they allege that authorities consistently fail to take adequate preventative measures. They believe this lack of preparation is the reason for the "major disaster" this time around.

Md Selim Sheikh, Deputy Director of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Aricha Port, acknowledged the situation and announced that emergency measures have been taken. "We've decided to shift launch operations temporarily to reserve No-2 Ferry Terminal to ease passenger suffering," he said. He added that immediate repairs are not possible due to the ongoing monsoon season. The plan is to recover and store the jetties, with permanent repairs scheduled to be carried out after the rainy season subsides.

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