Boat tragedy: Four IWT officials suspended

Guwahati (Assam), September 6, 2018:

Three officials of the Inland Water Transport (IWT) have been suspended for their alleged dereliction of duty vis-à-vis Wednesday’s mechanized country boat tragedy in the Brahmaputra in North Guwahati that claimed the lives of two college girls.

The suspended officials were executive engineer Vikramaditya Choudhury, Guwahati Ferry Ghat in-charge Purnananda Das and section officers Dharmeswar Baishya and Jagadish Das.

Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said the suspension of “bhut-bhuti” service in Guwahati would remain in force during the entire rainy season.

The department has decided to restructure the IWT for better and effective public service. Three bodies such as Regularity Authority, Assam Shipping Company and Assam Port Company will be constituted under Assam Inland Water Transport Reorganization Act for the management of the respective sectors, the minister said.