Jhalakhati launch fire tragedy

A pall of gloom descended across the country as news spread like wildfire about the tragic fire on Abhijan-10, a passenger launch plying Sugandha river in Jhalakathi. The incident is the deadliest of its kind. As a matter of fact, while there have been reports of small fire incidents in launches, never before have we seen a fire of this magnitude. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud, who rushed to the scene in the morning, described the incident as “mysterious” adding that “Such swift spread of the fire looked unusual to me. We’ve never seen fire spreading so rapidly. It’s confusing. Many people say time was wasted. Let’s see what the investigations find.” As many as forty people were burnt alive in the raging inferno on water. It took 15 fire engines two hours to control the fire and another eight to cool down the vessel. The number of fatalities may increase with least 72 burnt victims admitted to hospitals, some of them in critical condition. What makes the incident particularly tragic is that many of the victims could not be identified and 30 victims were laid to rest in Barguna. Another worrisome fact is that the authorities are still grappling with unanswered questions as to what ignited it and how it spread so fast through all three floors. The shipping ministry has formed a seven-strong committee to investigate the fire and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority also launched a separate investigation.

A report published in this newspaper quoting Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology’s Accident Research Institute’s Director Prof Hadiuzzaman said that a vessel like Abhijan-10 catching fire is rare. Prof Hadiuzzaman further said, “Proper monitoring and maintenance of vessels are very important for ensuring safety. As per regulations, it is mandatory for passenger and cargo vessels to undergo docking surveys every two and four years respectively, for checking mechanical and structural fitness.” He pointed out that in many cases, vessels suffer accidents because these checks are not performed accordingly. While fires on waterways is rare, fires are a regular source of tragedy in Bangladesh. In July, 52 people perished in a blaze in a food and beverage factory in Rupganj, an industrial town outside Dhaka. At least 70 people died in February 2019 when fire tore through Dhaka apartments where chemicals were illegally stored.

Early reports indicate that there were many flammable things in the vessel. The launch was decorated with flammable materials like cardboards. Most of the passengers were also carrying flammable materials, such as blankets and other winter clothing. A leader of the Launch Owners Association said that the launch was painted anew two months ago. New decorative materials were also added. The use of wood and gum in the decoration might have intensified the fire. However, we are yet to know what exactly ignited the fire. There are several theories being articulated but there is no conclusive evidence until now.

Accidents in the waterways of this delta crisscrossed by numerous rivers are frustratingly common in Bangladesh. According to the Accident Research Institute, at least 64 accidents (more than five per month) took place in waterways in this country till December 12, which resulted in the death of 158 people. Experts blame poor maintenance, lax safety standards at shipyards and overcrowding for these accidents.

Let us hope that this tragedy in Jhalakhathi will be the last of its kind in Bangladesh. Accidents cannot be eradicated totally. Unfortunately, according to experts, many riverine accidents could have been avoided. Blame-game is in operation at full throttle after every accident involving river vessels. This time too we can’t expect anyone to come forward to take responsibility. The probe committees should be absolutely thorough in their investigations. If any laxity and oversight is found the persons responsible should be brought to book. There are several authorities overseeing the river vessels’ operations– Department of Shipping, BIWTA, the local administration and the law enforcement agencies. However, apparently few are aware of their exact roles, leading to chaos in the waterways. Urgent remedial measures are needed to bring an end to the chaotic situation prevailing in the waterways in order to minimize the number of river accidents.