36 bodies found in five days

FE Team | Published: August 09, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

MUNSHIGANJ, Aug 8 (UNB):  Another salvage ship, 'Jarip-10, having  modern equipment to locate sunken vessels, reached Mawa Friday  morning to locate Pinak-6 launch five days after it sank in the Padma  river near Mawa Ghat in Lauhajang upazila with over 250 passengers  on board.
The death toll from the tragic incident rose to 40 with the recovery of four more bodies from different points of Padma and Meghna rivers Friday.
Deputy director of Navy headquarters Commander Habibul Alam said  Jarip-10 reached Mawa at 6 am today.
He said Jarip-10 and Kandari-2 have started operation in the morning  using the modern equipment to locate the sunken launch.
Meanwhile, a gayebana janaza for seven members of a family, who remained missing in the 'Pinak-6' capsize in the Padma River near Mawa Ferryghat, was held at Satroshi village in Sadarpur upazila Friday.
Earlier, salvage vessels-Nirbhik and Rustam - reached the spot but failed to locate the launch due to strong currents in the mighty river.
The relatives of the missing passengers got furious as the authorities failed to trace the ill-fated launch even after five days of the incident.
Of the 40 bodies, 23 were handed over to the victims' family members for burial, the district administration sources said.
Besides, 17 bodies were kept at Pachhar Primary School premises in Shipchar upazila of Madaripur district for identification.
Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner Md Saiful Hasan Badal said according to their list 130 people remained missing till Friday.
The mishap took place when the overloaded launch with over 250 passengers on board from Kawrakandi capsized in the river 800 yards off  Mawa Ghat (jetty) around 11:15 am Monday due to strong currents while it was heading towards the jetty.