The rescue operation is going on as a trawler filled with Hindu pilgrims capsized in the Karatoa river in Boda upazila of Panchagarh on Sunday, leaving at least 24 people, including children, dead. At least 10 passengers of the vessel were still missing — Focus Bangla 
At least 24 people drowned and 10 went missing after a ferryboat carrying Durga puja devotees sank in Karatoa river in Bangladesh's northern frontier-district Panchagarh Sunday, sources said.
Tragedy struck when some 60-70 people were crossing the river to reach a temple to join Hindu religious ceremony of Mahalay marking the start of Durga puja. "The boat was overloaded," police said.
Among the dead were 12 women and eight children, who hardly knew how to swim to safety, the sources said. Many swam to safety.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow over the loss of life, at the start of ceremonies of Durga puja-the greatest religious festival of the people of this faith.
"The air over here is thick with wails," says a spot account of the accident, which sent shockwaves through the country.
A UNB report quoting police says 15 bodies were recovered shortly after the engine-propelled trawler packed with 60-70 passengers capsized in the river in Boda upazila.
As search for the missing continued, divers from the fire service and local people retrieved nine more bodies from the river around 3:30 pm, said SM Sirajul Huda, Superintendent of Police in Panchagarh.
Identities of the deceased could not be known immediately.
Police guessed at least 10 more were still missing, search for them was continuing.
The trawler sank in midstream of the river while heading towards Badheswar temple on the occasion of Mayalaya from Mareya Aulia ghat around 2:30 pm, said SP Sirajul.
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