26 dead in Daulatdia ferry ghat accident, search for 8 more continues; bus salvaged

A total of 26 bodies have been recovered as of yet after a passenger bus carrying around 40 people plunged into the Padma River while attempting to board a ferry, at Daulatdia ferry ghat in Rajbari yesterday afternoon (25 March).

Eight individuals have been rescued alive with continuous efforts by the rescue teams. While authorities are speculating that eight others are still missing.

The incident occurred at around 5:20pm at pontoon No 3, when the Souhardo Paribahan bus lost control, overturned, and sank to an estimated depth of 60 feet in the course of time, according to the police and Fire Service and Civil Defence.

The 26 lives lost in Daulatdia ferry ghat accident

As of 11:45am today (26 March), the local district administration and the fire service confirmed that a total of 26 bodies have been recovered.

Four units of the Fire Service and 10 rescue divers participated in the operation. In addition, members of the army, navy, police, BIWTA, Coast Guard and local administration also jointly participated in the rescue efforts.

Photo: UNB

Fire Service, in an update shared with the media last night, had said that the first responders have recovered the bodies of four men, 10 women, and two children — a boy and a girl.

It added that the locals also recovered two more bodies.

Around 12:35am today, the submerged bus was salvaged from the river with the help of the rescue vessel Hamza, nearly six hours after the incident.

Goalanda Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Md Maruf Hossain confirmed three casualties, saying they had been rescued and taken to the hospital, where two were declared dead, and one was receiving treatment.

Fire Service officials said the submerged bus was located underwater by multiple diving units from the Goalanda, Aricha, Dhaka, Paturia, and Faridpur.

Trinath Saha, the in-charge of Daulatdia River Police Outpost, said last evening, "There were around 40 passengers on the bus. The rescue vessel Hamza began operations. So far, two people have been rescued alive."

"Fire Service divers were working at the scene, and more diving teams were being sent from the headquarters in Dhaka," said Talha Bin Jasim, media officer at the Fire Service headquarters.

Dewan Sohel Rana, deputy assistant director of Rajbari Fire Service, said the driver of the bus lost control while boarding the ferry, and the vehicle fell into the river.

Md Monir Hossain, a transport supervisor on duty at Daulatdia ferry terminal, told reporters that the Souhardo Paribahan passenger bus arrived at pontoon No 3 shortly after 5pm.

"At around 5:15pm, a utility [small] ferry named Hasna Hena struck the pontoon with force. Unable to control the impact, the bus plunged into the Padma River," he said.

According to local sources, the bus had left Rajbari with around 40 passengers. Shortly after the accident, five to seven passengers managed to swim ashore.

Goalanda police said that bodies of many passengers are believed to still be inside the submerged bus.

As the rescue operation continued, stories and images of heartbreak kept pouring in.

Nuruzzaman, on his way back to Dhaka after the Eid holidays, had boarded the bus with his wife and children.

While the bus was boarding the ferry, he stepped out with his four-year-old daughter, but his wife and another child remained inside.

Now, sitting silently on the banks of the Padma, he waited, hoping for news of his family.

In the same bus, Jahangirnagar University student Rayhan was returning to the capital with his mother. When news of the accident spread on social media, his friends and classmates were sent in shock.

Many continue to hold hope in their prayers, wishing that their friend might return safely.