Death toll in Bhola ferry capsize rises to 77
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
BHOLA, Nov 30 (UNB): The death toll in Friday night's ferry accident in the river Tentulia rose to 77 as 23 more bodies were retrieved from the river Monday.
Bhola Deputy Commissioner M Mesbaul Islam confirmed that 72 bodies were recovered in the launch mishap till this afternoon.
Most of the deceased were children and women, local officials said.
Fifty-two of the deceased were identified as Aklima, Apu (4) and Hazera (25) of Lalmohan upazila, Shahinur (45), Hridoy (8) and Jasim (30) of Aminabad, Kheshnahar (30), Lima (4) and Tamanna (5) of Gajaria, Faruk (2) of Akata Bazaar, Kabita (3), Sohag (26), Nure Alam (26) and Yasmin (24) of Char Sakina, Shamsuddin (40), Laizu (22) and Salam (20) of Dangin Shiba, Zitu (7) of Roy Chand, Ripon (12) of Char Nurul Amin, unidentified woman (17), Rhidoy (6) and Nupur (4) of Bara Manika, Moushumi (25) of Purba Madraz, Ibrahim (28), Rikta (11), Lokman (22), Parvez (14), Khokan (18) of Farashganj, Sagor (7) of Char Kachchhapia, Rabeya (48), Sohel (18), Zahid Hossain (7), Hossain (50), Shanu (25) of Balur Char, Bellal (45) of Rayrabad, Sidu (10), Sakib (9), Sajib (8) and Naima (3) of Kalmar, Repo (20) of Mymensingh, Riya (5), Zoynal Abedin Kalu (25) and Minara Begum (17) of Osmanganj, an unidentified baby of Mangal Sikdar, Lipi (28) of Uttar Zoynagar, Sumi (20), Peskar Haular and Milon (12) of Fulbagicha, Anwar (20) of Char Buta, Sohel (20) of Hazariganj, Rama of Sabujganj, Akbar Hossain (40) of Kachuakhali, Mosharaf Hossain Azad (35) of Char Fashion and Bibi Kulsum (25) of Das Kandi.
The Bhola-bound passenger launch from the capital, keeled over in the river Friday night as its bottom developed cracks for overcrowding while halting at a river terminal.
Earlier reports said the launch, MV Coco-4, crammed with Eid holidaymakers, half-sank in the river, turning the festive mood into a terrible tragic strain in the coastal area.
Meanwhile, the government has formed a five-member investigation committee to find out the cause of the fatal ferry mishap. The probe body has been asked to report its findings within seven days.
Fire Brigade sources said the launch, carrying 1,500 holidaymakers, sank in the river at about 11:30pm amid scrambles of passengers as its bottom developed cracks for overcrowding and took in water while halting at a terminal at Nazirpur in Lalmohon Upazila.
Many passengers managed to swim ashore shortly after the night-time accident, which occurred in the normal season and weather conditions.
Police said the rescuers cut open the roofs of the triple-decker launch and retrieved bodies from its hull.
About 20 hours after the accident, rescue ship 'Hamza' reached the spot Saturday and only righted the tilted launch and at last failed in its hectic effort to salvage the vessel.
"The operation was suspended as the divers couldn't reach the bottom-deck due to darkness and lack of necessary equipment," one official told the news agency.
"Some of the missing people were feared trapped inside the water vessel," said one source, indicating that the death toll from the ferry accident could rise further.
The ferry was sailing Friday night from the capital to the coastal town of Bhola with overcrowded passengers on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha festival.
The relatives standing on the riverbanks were searching for their loved ones who went missing on way home to share with them the happiness of the holy fiesta.
Bhola Deputy Commissioner M Mesbaul Islam confirmed that 72 bodies were recovered in the launch mishap till this afternoon.
Most of the deceased were children and women, local officials said.
Fifty-two of the deceased were identified as Aklima, Apu (4) and Hazera (25) of Lalmohan upazila, Shahinur (45), Hridoy (8) and Jasim (30) of Aminabad, Kheshnahar (30), Lima (4) and Tamanna (5) of Gajaria, Faruk (2) of Akata Bazaar, Kabita (3), Sohag (26), Nure Alam (26) and Yasmin (24) of Char Sakina, Shamsuddin (40), Laizu (22) and Salam (20) of Dangin Shiba, Zitu (7) of Roy Chand, Ripon (12) of Char Nurul Amin, unidentified woman (17), Rhidoy (6) and Nupur (4) of Bara Manika, Moushumi (25) of Purba Madraz, Ibrahim (28), Rikta (11), Lokman (22), Parvez (14), Khokan (18) of Farashganj, Sagor (7) of Char Kachchhapia, Rabeya (48), Sohel (18), Zahid Hossain (7), Hossain (50), Shanu (25) of Balur Char, Bellal (45) of Rayrabad, Sidu (10), Sakib (9), Sajib (8) and Naima (3) of Kalmar, Repo (20) of Mymensingh, Riya (5), Zoynal Abedin Kalu (25) and Minara Begum (17) of Osmanganj, an unidentified baby of Mangal Sikdar, Lipi (28) of Uttar Zoynagar, Sumi (20), Peskar Haular and Milon (12) of Fulbagicha, Anwar (20) of Char Buta, Sohel (20) of Hazariganj, Rama of Sabujganj, Akbar Hossain (40) of Kachuakhali, Mosharaf Hossain Azad (35) of Char Fashion and Bibi Kulsum (25) of Das Kandi.
The Bhola-bound passenger launch from the capital, keeled over in the river Friday night as its bottom developed cracks for overcrowding while halting at a river terminal.
Earlier reports said the launch, MV Coco-4, crammed with Eid holidaymakers, half-sank in the river, turning the festive mood into a terrible tragic strain in the coastal area.
Meanwhile, the government has formed a five-member investigation committee to find out the cause of the fatal ferry mishap. The probe body has been asked to report its findings within seven days.
Fire Brigade sources said the launch, carrying 1,500 holidaymakers, sank in the river at about 11:30pm amid scrambles of passengers as its bottom developed cracks for overcrowding and took in water while halting at a terminal at Nazirpur in Lalmohon Upazila.
Many passengers managed to swim ashore shortly after the night-time accident, which occurred in the normal season and weather conditions.
Police said the rescuers cut open the roofs of the triple-decker launch and retrieved bodies from its hull.
About 20 hours after the accident, rescue ship 'Hamza' reached the spot Saturday and only righted the tilted launch and at last failed in its hectic effort to salvage the vessel.
"The operation was suspended as the divers couldn't reach the bottom-deck due to darkness and lack of necessary equipment," one official told the news agency.
"Some of the missing people were feared trapped inside the water vessel," said one source, indicating that the death toll from the ferry accident could rise further.
The ferry was sailing Friday night from the capital to the coastal town of Bhola with overcrowded passengers on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha festival.
The relatives standing on the riverbanks were searching for their loved ones who went missing on way home to share with them the happiness of the holy fiesta.