Barpeta bars ferry, boat services after 4 pm after Bohori Ghat collision

All ferry and boat services in Assam's Barpeta district must now stop by 4 pm every day, after a collision between two passenger boats at Bohori Ghat injured 15 people.

The order was issued by District Commissioner Nabadeep Pathak, who also chairs the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), using powers under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It took effect immediately and will stay in force until further notice, according to The Sentinel and India Today NE.

What the order says

The restriction covers both departmental (government) and private ferries and boats operating anywhere in the district. Ferry operators, lessees of ghats and boat owners have to complete their final trips and suspend services by 4 pm. No vessel may carry passengers after that hour unless the competent authority has given prior permission in special circumstances.

The administration cited the dangers of running boats late in the evening and at night, including poor visibility, winter fog and other navigational hazards on the river.

Operators must also make sure every boat used for ferry services has a valid licence and enough safety equipment on board. Services have to be halted at once during heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds or poor visibility, and whenever an official weather warning is in force.

Circle Officers, Inland Water Transport (IWT) officials, Sectional Officers and other authorities have been told to enforce the order at the ghats in their areas. The DDMA warned that violations, or slackness in enforcing the rules, will draw strict action under the Disaster Management Act and other laws.

The Bohori Ghat collision

The order follows the collision at Bohori Ghat, which falls under the Chenga Revenue Circle. Fifteen people suffered minor injuries and were treated; no deaths or damage to property were reported.

Pathak visited the site along with Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Ditimoni Pegu, Additional District Commissioner Namrata Das and other officials. Preliminary findings showed that the private boats involved were running without valid licences and without the required safety measures, the reports said.

NEInsider reported on the collision when it happened. Read our earlier report.

Why it matters

Country boats and motorised ferries are a daily lifeline for people living on the Brahmaputra's char (river island) areas and along its banks in lower Assam, carrying students, traders, farm produce and livestock. Many of these services are run by private operators, and safety checks on licences, life jackets and passenger limits have long been a concern on the river.

The 4 pm cut-off will shorten the working day for commuters and traders who rely on evening crossings, particularly as daylight hours shrink in winter. The district administration has not said how long the restriction will last or whether timings will be relaxed once licensing checks are complete.