Twenty-four people are dead, while many remain missing after a bus in Bangladesh plunged into a river during its attempt to get onto a transport ferry. The accident happened in the southwestern district of Rajbari at the Dauladia terminal when the bus fell into the Padma River at about 5.15 pm on Wednesday.
The search for the missing is ongoing by the fire service and coastguard divers, with assistance from the military and police.
“(Salvage vessel) Hamza retrieved the bus with its cranes, and 14 bodies were found inside,” fire service official Sohel Rana informed, adding that the divers had earlier recovered the bodies of two women in their late 50s or early 60s and found the 14 others as the bus was salvaged at around yesterday midnight after six hours of efforts amid rough weather.
Officials said they estimated that the Dhaka-bound bus was carrying some 40 passengers, including several children, and most were returning to the capital after ending their Eid holidays.
Police and witnesses earlier said about 11 passengers managed to swim ashore or were rescued, but most others remained missing.
“When the bus was heading towards the ferry from the pontoon, another smaller utility ferry hit the pontoon. It plunged into the river as the bus driver lost control of the steering,” the terminal’s supervisor, Monir Hossain, said.
“Right before our eyes, the bus fell into the river, but we could do nothing,” he added.
Doctors at Dauladia Health Complex said two women were brought dead, while another woman, herself a doctor, received treatment.
According to witnesses and officials, many of the passengers were members of the same family. While several of them survived as they stood outside, their relatives were on the bus as it drowned.
As per the Rajbari district administration officials, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman called them to know salvage campaign updates and ordered an investigation into the accident.
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