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Bangladesh searches for sunken ferry; hundreds feared dead
Dhaka, July 10: Rescuers searched choppy rivers in southern Bangladesh today for a ferry that capsized with about 750 passengers aboard. Hundreds were believed trapped inside and feared dead.
Dhaka, July 10: Rescuers searched choppy rivers in
southern Bangladesh today for a ferry that capsized with about
750 passengers aboard. Hundreds were believed trapped inside
and feared dead.
Only four bodies had been found, rescue officials said.
Local media said the ferry was carrying nearly three times more passengers than its legal capacity.
The triple-decked ferry went down Tuesday night at the meeting point of three rivers, the Padma, Meghna and Dakatia, in Chandpur, 40 kms southeast of Dhaka. Rescue officials said 220 people survived the disaster and about 530 people were missing and feared drowned.
Two salvage ships were at the site of the accident trying to locate the sunken ferry, the MV Nasreen. The ships are equipped with cranes to pull the ferry up from the river bed.
Authorities also called in navy divers to help with the salvage work. "We have not been able to determine where the ferry is. Locating the ferry is our first job before any salvage operation can start," said Abdur Rab Howlader, the area's government administrator.
Swift currents at the meeting point of the three monsoon-fed rivers and low water visibility were hampering the search, he said.
Local fishermen and divers were using their boats and fishing nets to desperately search for survivors, officials said. Hundreds of anxious relatives and survivors lined the shores or joined rescue teams.
Bureau Report
Local media said the ferry was carrying nearly three times more passengers than its legal capacity.
The triple-decked ferry went down Tuesday night at the meeting point of three rivers, the Padma, Meghna and Dakatia, in Chandpur, 40 kms southeast of Dhaka. Rescue officials said 220 people survived the disaster and about 530 people were missing and feared drowned.
Two salvage ships were at the site of the accident trying to locate the sunken ferry, the MV Nasreen. The ships are equipped with cranes to pull the ferry up from the river bed.
Authorities also called in navy divers to help with the salvage work. "We have not been able to determine where the ferry is. Locating the ferry is our first job before any salvage operation can start," said Abdur Rab Howlader, the area's government administrator.
Swift currents at the meeting point of the three monsoon-fed rivers and low water visibility were hampering the search, he said.
Local fishermen and divers were using their boats and fishing nets to desperately search for survivors, officials said. Hundreds of anxious relatives and survivors lined the shores or joined rescue teams.
Bureau Report