DHAKA, May 16 — A search operation is under way after a ferry carrying hundreds of passengers sank in a river on Thursday following a storm and heavy rainfall in Bangladesh’s central Munshiganj district.
The ferry, carrying 250 to 300 passengers, capsized in Meghna river at around 3pm local time after it was hit by nor’wester (a type of storm in Bangladesh), Xinhua news agency reported.
Ferdous Hossain, officer-in-charge of Gajaria police station in Munsihganj, said a rescue vessel was called in to boost local efforts to salvage the ferry.
Hossain said many passengers were able to swim ashore but could not provide the exact number of missing passengers.
Ferry disasters are common in Bangladesh with ferries often overcrowded.
At least 112 bodies were recovered after a ferry capsized in Munshiganj district in March 2012.
–BERNAMA
PHOTO: EPA
