Launch capsizes with 250 near Mawa Ghat

A launch, packed with holidaymakers, capsized in Padma River at Louhajung Upazila in Munshiganj district on Monday morning. Police and locals said the accident took place near Mawa Launch Ghat around 11:15am. The launch, Pinak-6, carrying over 250 passengers from Kawrakandi, sank in Padma River, 800 yards off Mawa Ghat (jetty) around while it was heading towards the jetty. Contacted, Assistant Superintendent of Police Kutub Uddin of Munshiganj’s Sreenagar circle said about 200-250 passengers might have been inside the launch when the river craft met the accident. Louhijung Police Station OC Tofazzal Hossain said that the police have rushed to the spot at the Louhajung Turning Point in the river. Quoting Mawa Ghat’s Launch Owners’ Association President Iqbal Hossain, the police officer said that over 250 passengers were on board, Pinak-6, almost all the occupants were returning to Dhaka after celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr with their relatives at their respective village homes. However, police and locals could not acofirm as yet how many passengers could be rescued or have swum ashore and how many have met their end, according to a news agency.