Driver dies as tractor falls in Padma River in Faridpur

“We presume the accident occurred when the driver fell asleep, or there was a sudden erosion in the riverbank,” says Fire Service Officer Ohidul

A man driving a tractor has died after the vehicle overturned and fell into the Padma River in Faridpur’s Charvadrasan Upazila while ploughing a paddy field.

The body of the driver was recovered from the banks of the Padma River in Balurghat village of Char Jhaukanda Union around 11am on Friday, said Charvadrasan Fire Service Station Officer Ohidul Islam.

The deceased, 20-year-old Joy Biswas, was a resident of Shahbazpur village in Shailkupa Upazila of Jhenaidah.

Locals said that for the last two days, Joy had been ploughing the farming land owned by Mohammad Ali using a tractor.

On early Friday, he was running the tractor around 1am in the farming land at the bank of Padma River.

The tractor went out of control and fell into the river. It was almost completely dipped in water with driver Joy pinned under it.

As it was nighttime with no one around, the incident remained unnoticed.

Around 8am on Friday, locals saw the tractor wheels and other parts floating on the river and informed the police.

Later, a team of Charvadrasan Fire Service reached the scene and ran a rescue operation.

“Fire Service members went and recovered Joy’s body. The tractor was submerged (in water) near the riverbank, but not completely gone under water,” officer Ohidul said.

“We presume the accident occurred when the driver fell asleep, or there was a sudden erosion in the riverbank,” he said.

Charvadrasan Police Sub Inspector Mozammel Haque Biswas said the family of the deceased were informed.

Police would take necessary legal steps after talking to the family, he added.