More than 300 feared dead in ferry disasters
The death toll after three Bangladeshi ferries capsized in stormy weather in a week increased to 146 today, rescue officials said, as hopes faded for 174 people still missing.
Eight more decomposing bodies were found floating downstream from the Padma River in Manikganj district, near the capital Dhaka, where a double-deck ferry capsized Tuesday with about 250 people aboard. Overnight, rescuers plucked five more bodies from the river.
Fifty-eight people were confirmed dead and another 144 were unaccounted for, police diver Abdur Razzak said.
“There is very little chance of finding alive those who are still missing,” Razzak said.
Efforts to salvage the ferry ML Raipura were hampered by strong currents, said police Lt. Comm. Mahbubur Rashid.
Meanwhile, in southern Bhola district, rescuers searched for about 30 people still missing after a fishing boat sank in the Meghna River on Thursday night, said police officer Mozammel Hossain.
At least 70 people swam ashore or were rescued by passing boats, Hossain said.
On Sunday, an overcrowded ferry carrying a wedding party sank in southern Patuakhali district, killing at least 88 people.
More than 2,000 ferries operate across Bangladesh’s 4,375-mile river routes carrying about 100,000 passengers a day, the Shipping Ministry said.
Frequent ferry accidents are blamed on unfit vessels, faulty design and lax rule enforcement.
