Ferry disaster toll climbs to 56 at Bhola, Bangladesh

partially sank m.v. Coco-4 launch

Bhola, Bangladesh Nov 29 - Another 21 bodies were retrieved from the hull of M.V. Coco-4 after salvage vessel M.V. Hamza re-floated the partially capsized ferry on the Tentulia river Sunday, raising the death toll to 56.

The local administration has handed over 49 bodies to relatives and estimated some 50 passengers were still missing, said district commissioner Mesbahul Islam.

Rescued from the  partially sank ferry

Rescue operations came to a halt for the day at around 7:30pm, he added.

The accident occurred late on Friday when the ferry was trying to anchor at Nazirpur terminal in Lalmohon, some 40 kilometres from Bhola district town.

It was carrying more than triple its capacity, with over 1,500 passengers, from Dhaka to Lalmohon ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha.

The vessel, crowded from hull to decks with people heading home to celebrate with families, began tipping with the weight of disembarking passengers and partially sank, according to eye witnesses.

Police, divers of BIWTA and fire service men have been engaged in rescue operations for since the early hours of Saturday.

Hundreds of people have been gathered on the bank of the river throughout the Eid day and following Sunday, anxiously waiting for their relatives who were on board the launch. Families wailed over the bodies of dear ones as they were retrieved.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now in Port of Spain attending a Commonwealth summit, expressed her grief Saturday over the launch disaster and ordered speedy rescue operations and investigation into the accident.

The president, Zillur Rahman, also expressed his sorrow condolences for the grieving families.

Three committees have been formed to report on aspects of the launch disaster.

The government formed a five-member probe committee, headed by deputy shipping secretary Baitul Amin Bhuiyan, officials said. It was asked to submit a report within seven working days.

BIWTA on Sunday also formed a five-strong body to investigate the incident, its chairman Abdul Malek told reporters.

"The team will inspect the passenger capacity, fitness certificate of the launch and will visit the spot Monday," he added.

The district commissioner said a three-member committee has been formed on behalf of the district administration. They have been asked to submit a report within three days.

Courtesy: BDNews24.com

Tragedy strikes Bhola at Eid when crowded ferry capsized in southern Bangladesh.

 

Bhola, Bangladesh, Nov - 28 A crowded ferry carrying more than 2,000 passengers has capsized in southern Bangladesh.

The accident happened when the MV Coco-4 arrived at the town of Lalmohan on Bhola Island at about 11 pm. Tragedy greeted families in Bhola on Eid day as 35 bodies, 11 of them children, were recovered after the MV Coco-4 overturned late on Friday at Nazirpur, some 40 kilometres from the district town. The weight of disembarking passengers caused it to tip and partially sink, reports said.

Ten bodies were retrieved from the hull of the vessel and another 35 from the waters of the Tetulia river throughout Saturday, Most of the victims were local. Some 100 passengers were still reported missing as rescue operations were called off for the day with darkness falling and water level rising with the high tide. Rescue workers said the search for victims will resume on Sunday morning. In Bangladesh, ferry authorities usually don't keep passenger lists, making it difficult to know the exact number of passengers on board.

The president expressed his sorrow at the tragedy and condolences for the grieving families.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, attending a Commonwealth summit in the Port of Spain , expressed her deep grief at the launch disaster and ordered speedy rescue operation and investigation into the accident.

Shipping minister Shahjahan Khan reached the scene just before rescue work was suspended. Principal secretary of the prime minister MA Karim was also at the spot.

The Lalmohon-bound launch from Dhaka was carrying more than triple its capacity, with over 2,500 passengers, officials and passengers estimated Its capacity, as inscribed on the vessel, was 600 passengers in the day time and 446 at night.

Families, trying to reach home for the Eid holiday, were crammed into the hull of the vessel, said those who boarded the launch in the capital. They also said there was barely standing room throughout the decks of the launch. Many of the passengers were travelling home from Dhaka to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Azha.

The MV Coco-4 is one of Bangladesh's largest inland vessels, named after the youngest son of ex Prime Mnister Begum Khaleda Zia.