A ferry in southern Bangladesh, carrying about 200 people, crashed on Tuesday, leaving 30 people dead and dozens missing. After colliding with a cargo boat earlier on Tuesday morning, then sinking in the Meghna River, about 35 people were rescued, reported by local police chief Mohammad Shahabuddin Khan. Since the sinking, divers have recovered 30 bodies of the deceased from the ferry, including a young woman found cradling her child’s lifeless body.
A survivor, Dulal Dewan who was asleep on the top deck, explained the scene of chaos as the ferry collided with the other boat. “I was awakened with a big jolt. I jumped into the river in darkness as the ferry started going down. In minutes there were screams all around. People were shouting for help.” Eight of the family members Dewan traveled with remain unaccounted for. Azizul Alam, the area’s government administrator, reported rescuers located the ferry in the water about 70 feet (21 meters) deep. Khan said, “The death toll is likely to rise as more bodies are feared trapped inside. We will get a better picture of the casualties once the sunken ferry is pulled out of the water.” The cause of the accident is under investigation.
