Ferry services on the busy Paturia-Daulatdia route have been severely disrupted owing to strong current in the Padma since Friday morning. The disruption has triggered a serpentine queue of vehicles at Paturia ferry ghat in Manikganj. Since morning, hundreds of vehicles, including 300 trucks, have been waiting at the ferry ghat to cross the river. Read: Ferry services resume on Shimulia-Majhirkandi route after 7 hours Ferries are taking more time to reach their destinations due to the strong river current with the rise of water in the Padma, said Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation's (BIWTC) Aricha sector DGM Sheikh Shah Newaz. Besides, ferry services on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route are closed, as a result of which vehicles of that route have thronged this ghat. "Some 400 vehicles are stuck in the terminal area on both sides," he said. Read: BIWTC announces 20pc rise in ferry, ship fare A 3-4km tailback of trucks has been created on the highway of the Paturia ghat area, as commuter buses are prioritised to cross the river first, said the BIWTC official. At present, 18 of 21 ferries are in service on the Paturia-Daulatdia route, he added.

Ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route has been severely hampered due to strong current in the Padma since Sunday morning. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Aricha Sector Manager Mohiuddin Russell said it takes more time for the ferries to reach their destinations due to strong current with the rise of water in the Padma. Also read:Ferry services resume on Shimulia-Majhirkandi route after 7 hours As a result, more than 400 vehicles have been stuck in the terminal area, he added. Hundreds of buses, private cars and microbuses and 300 trucks were stranded at Paturia terminal to cross the river. Three to four kilometers long tailback of trucks were created on the highway at Sari Ghat area. Also read: Two ferries collide in Padma; 1 killed Meanwhile, the pontoons of the ferry have been shifted from low to medium level. And if the water level increases by only two centimeters, the pontoons will have to be taken to the upper level, said the BIWTC official. At present, 17 out of 19 ferries are on service on  Paturia-Daulatdia route.