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
