The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our correspondent, Barisal

Road communications in most of the Sidr affected southern region of the country resumed and gradually becoming normal.

Out of twenty jetties of the ferry stations 18 have been activated. However 12 ferries are still stuck and stranded on river banks and shoals.

To overcome the shortages of ferries, some ferries have been brought from other places of the country and region, said Abul Kalam Khan, executive engineer of ferry division of road and highways department of Barisal region.

R and H sources said that total 72 ferries were deployed for service in 37 ferry stations of this region before Sidr-hit of November 15.

By the hit of Sidr ferry operations became disrupted in 20 stations after jetties were rendered damaged, smashed and ferries went out of service as most of the vessels were stranded or stuck on shoal or river bank.

To set these ferries afloat again cranes of R and H department, salvage ship Hamza, and other equipments were used.

The executive engineer of ferry division further said 18 ferry stations started functioning and ferries and jetties of 18 have been set at right up. Now work is in progress at Amuya ferry station of Jhalakati is expected to be active soon.

However it may take more two weeks time to make Galachipa ferry station workable again, he added.

He further said that the ferries still stranded on river banks and shoals are difficult to be floated on river again. Therefore ferries are being brought from less important places to those points.

More ferries are required and request had already seen sent to higher authority of R and H ferry division for arranging at least six more ferries on emergency basis to face the crisis and rush of next Eid-ul-Azha vacation, he told.