Fog still envelops southern region

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Thursday, 23 February 2012

Author / Source : STAFF REPORTER

BARISAL, FEB 22: Dense fog still covers the southern region for almost all the daytime though winter has already taken exit. 
Commuters face 8-12 hours delay every day in reaching their destinations because of thick fog on the roads and waterways in the region. Although the mercury dipped  to 14.03 degrees Celsius lowest and went up to 31 degrees Celsius highest on Tuesday in Barisal and adjoining areas, density of fogs increased narrowing visibility to 3 kilometres at 6:00 am, said Anisur Rahman, official of Barisal Met office.
Normal activities at the public and  private organisations started late as fog covered the areas delaying transportation, city dwellers said. Water vessels including triple-decker launches Parabat-11, Sundarban-8, Suravi-7,  Kirton-khola and Dwipraj  reached Barisal at 11:45-12:45 pm making eight hours’ delay than the schedule. 
On the other hand, Parabat-2,7 Sundarban-7 and Kalam Khan reached Dhaka at almost the scheduled time on Wednesday, said Saidur Rahman Rintu, vice-president of Barisal Launch Owners Association.
Gopal Chandra Majumdar, assistant general manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, Barisal, said rocket steamer PS Lepcha on the Barisal-Dhaka route reached Barisal at 1:15 pm delaying 6-8 hours.
The river vessels were caught by fog at about 1.00am on Tuesday night and anchored in the river.
The vessels started their journey at 8:30am next day.
Alamgir Hossain, president of Barisal Bus Owners Association, said ferry services on the major routes like Barisal-Bhola and Barisal-Kuakata remained suspended for two-three hours till late morning on Wednesday as unexpected heavy fog descended on the basins of the Meghna  and Arial Kha rivers.
Disruption in ferry services created huge traffic congestion on both sides of the rivers causing sufferings to thousands of stranded passengers, he added.