Dhaka, March 18 -- Authorities have suspended all ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route as stormy weather swept across the river.

Ferry services were temporarily halted at 8:45pm on Wednesday to prevent accidents, confirmed Md Salam Hossain, acting deputy general manager (DGM) of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Aricha office.

Launches had already stopped running on the route after 7pm.

The suspension has left two ferries -- the Khan Jahan Ali and the Jahangir -- stranded mid-river with passengers and vehicles on board.

"Once the storm passes, we will resume services and clear the backlog of vehicles and passengers according to their serials," said the DGM.

The disruption comes during the peak Eid-ul-...