Death toll in Shitalakshya launch capsize rises to 27

The death toll rose to 27 as 22 more bodies were found yesterday after salvaging the launch that had capsized in the Shitalakshya River in Narayanganj's Madanganj Ghat area on Sunday evening.

Seven passengers were still missing as the sunken launch was salvaged, said Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman Golam Sadik.

The 22 dead bodies were recovered after the vessel had been salvaged and brought to the river bank.

The launch, ML Sabit Al Hasan, sank after colliding with the cargo ship SK-3 around 6pm on Sunday at Madanganj near the under-construction third Shitalakshya Bridge. It was on its way to Munshiganj.

After the accident, many passengers of the launch were able to swim ashore but many could not.

The rescue ship Prattay reached the spot around 9:30pm and started the salvage work.

The bodies of five women were recovered on Sunday night.

A four-member probe committee was formed yesterday with Rafiqul Islam, the BIWTA director for Marine Safety and Traffic Management, as its head.

Earlier, another seven-member body had been formed headed by Additional District Magistrate Khadiza Taheri Bobby.

The committees have been asked to submit their reports within five work days.

Hundreds of people, including relatives of passengers, had gathered on the Shitalakshya banks since morning as rescue workers were working.