Death toll in ferry accident rises to 18 in Bangladesh

The death toll of Wednesday's ferry capsized in Bangladesh's southern Barisal district has risen to 18 on Thursday after another four bodies were retrieved from River Sondha, the district's police chief SM Aktaruzzaman told Xinhua.

The ferry carrying scores of passengers sank at about 11:30 a.m. local time Wednesday in the river of Sondha in the country's Barisal district, some 169 km south of capital Dhaka. "Another four missing children's bodies were recovered on Thursday morning which takes the number of total death toll to 18 from 13 on Wednesday," Aktaruzzaman told Xinhua on Thursday.

He said eight people were still missing. Nearly after a day of relentless efforts rescue vessel "Nirbhik" managed to drag the sunken ferry to shore and lift up it on Thursday morning, he added. Ferry disasters are common in Bangladesh, as the country is criss-crossed by about 250 rivers, and ferry is a key means of transport.

Scores of people are killed each year from ferry disasters in the country. He said a search for the missing are still under way by the Fire Service and Civil Defence authorities in collaboration with law enforcers and locals.

The cause of the incident is attributed to the inclement weather conditions.

"At least 18 people are still missing as the small ferry capsized amid violent winds and huge waves," Aktaruzzaman said. Ferry and boat disasters are common in Bangladesh, which is crisscrossed by about 250 rivers. Ferry is still a key means of transport in the country, most of them are often overcrowded.

Source : XINHUA