Date | 30 October 2010 |
---|---|
Location | Bhagirathi River, West Bengal, India |
Coordinates | 24°11′13″N 88°16′03″E / 24.186828°N 88.267486°E |
Cause | Overcrowding |
Participants | 220 passengers and crew [1] |
Deaths | 74+ [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]
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]
Date | 30 October 2010 |
---|---|
Location | Bhagirathi River, West Bengal, India |
Coordinates | 24°11′13″N 88°16′03″E / 24.186828°N 88.267486°E |
Cause | Overcrowding |
Participants | 220 passengers and crew [1] |
Deaths | 74+ [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]
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]