A ferry carrying more than 300 passengers sank in a storm in southern Bangladesh and rescuers said the fate of those on board was unknown.
A television channel said most on board were feared dead. Only 15 passengers had managed to swim ashore. ``The ferry sank around midnight (on Friday) near Shatnal,`` said an official at nearby Chandpur. Shatnal is about 170 km south of the capital Dhaka``.
The twin-decked M V Salahuddin-2 was travelling to Patuakhali from Dhaka when it sank. A search had been mounted but it was too early to say how many passengers had drowned, the official said by telephone. A rescue operation was under way.
Thunderstorms have swept through Bangladesh over the last two days killing at least 25 people and injuring over 100, officials said on Friday. Bureau Report