By NNN-BSS
Dhaka, Bangladesh : At least 31 people, mostly women and children, drowned this afternoon, when a launch carrying more than 200 passengers capsized in the Buriganga River, rescuers and witnesses said.
They said the Munshiganj suburb-bound vessel, Saurav-1, from Sadarghat in Dhaka, sank near the Buriganga Bridge at Postagala, Being hit by a sand-laden cargo vessel from behind.
Fire service officials said 16 of the victims were women, eight children and seven men.
The death toll could rise, they said, as the rescue operation were continuing.
Among the dead, 14 could be identified so far, they said. Officials handed over 10 bodies to the relatives, they said.
The identified included, two-month-old Jonaki, Nayan, 26, Beauty, 16, Ranjit, 45, Arafat, 5, Anwara, 50, Zanabi, 50, Kuhely, 3, A Hakim, 40, Sajeda, 50, Lipi, 16, Alamgir, 14, Zarina Akhter, 50 and Aklima, 22.
According to witnesses the launch was carrying about 300 passengers but Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) officials put the number at 200.
Coastguard and fire service divers, who rushed to the spot following the accident, said 16 fire service rescue personnel found more bodies trapped inside the launch, that remains stuck in the river bed, upside down.
BIWTA rescue vessel Rustam rushed to the spot to salvage the sunken ferry.
“Stern action will be taken against those responsible for the tragic accident,” Home Adviser retired Major General MA Matin, who rushed to the spot, told reporters.
The adviser also said as per government provisions, compensation would be given to the victims’ families.
The government constituted a five-member committee headed by shipping ministry joint secretary MA Matin to inquire into the accident and submit the report in seven days. The committee included, BIWTA secretary, chief engineer of the Shipping Department, additional district magistrate of Dhaka and additional police superintendent of Dhaka.
Home secretary Abdul Karim, BIWTA chairman Abdul Mannan Hawladar and other officials are overseeing the rescue operation,
said officials.
Hundreds of people including wailing relatives of the victims crowded both the Buriganga banks, as the rescuers were searching for more bodies.