DHAKA: More than a hundred people are feared dead as an overcrowded launch, buffeted by strong waves in the Padma river, sank in Bangladesh.
Double-decker with around 200 people on board was on its way to Mawa Ghat from Kawrakandi terminal, and sank in the middle of the mighty river around 11:00am.
Rescuers found it hard to carry out the salvage operation due to strong currents.
The disaster struck less than two and a half months after a launch capsized in the Meghna river in Munshiganj, leaving at least 55 people dead.
The Daily Star reported that at least 120 people were still missing.
The local administration could not confirm how many people had managed to swim ashore. But locals, who took part in the rescue operation, said 50 to 60 passengers had made it to the shore. Most of them were returning to Dhaka after celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr at their village homes.
The launch sank amid high winds in the choppy waters where the depth of the river is around 90 feet, said the divers involved in the rescue operation.
A private TV station broadcast video footage of the sinking of the vessel. The rear part of the vessel began sinking first, and it then tilted to the left side before going down in the river. It all happened within minutes.
The footage was recorded with a cell phone of an unidentified person.
Another launch, Prince of Medina, was passing by at the time of the incident. One of its passengers, Rubel, said, “I saw the launch going down and its ill-fated passengers jumping into the water.”
An official of the Department of Shipping said the launch had a capacity of 85 people. But, according to survivors, there were at least 200 passengers on board.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
