According to the police, emergency operations were temporarily halted due to darkness but are set to resume in daylight. Multiple agencies, including fire services, navy personnel, and police, have been involved in the ongoing rescue effort
The vehicle, which was travelling from Rajbari to Dhaka, fell into the river while aboard a ferry near terminal number three. Pic/PTI
At least 23 people died after a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River in Bangladesh's Daulatdia on Wednesday evening, reported the ANI.
The vehicle, which was travelling from Rajbari to Dhaka, fell into the river while aboard a ferry near terminal number three.
According to Police Inspector Russel Mollah, emergency operations were temporarily halted due to darkness but are set to resume in daylight. Multiple agencies, including fire services, navy personnel, and police, have been involved in the ongoing rescue effort, the ANI reported.
The bus reportedly fell into the Padma River at approximately 5 pm while it was positioned on a ferry. Initial reports suggest the vehicle was carrying around 40 passengers, although witnesses claim the number may have exceeded 50, as additional travellers boarded along the route.
Operations underway
Rescue vessel Hamza managed to retrieve the submerged bus roughly six hours after the incident. By 11:30 pm, the entire vehicle had been lifted from the water using a crane, aiding authorities in their search for victims and survivors, according to the ANI.
Eyewitness accounts and survivors
Several survivors managed to swim ashore. One individual recounted the harrowing moment he escaped but saw his wife and child disappear beneath the water. Another survivor, Abdul Azizul, who boarded the bus from Kalukhali Upazila, also reached safety by swimming, though his family remains missing, the news agency reported.
Relatives gathered along the riverbanks at the ferry terminal, anxiously awaiting updates. Many were seen in distress as rescue teams continued their efforts into the night, as per the ANI.
Passengers returning after Eid
Authorities believe that most passengers were travelling back to Dhaka after celebrating Eid holidays, and several children were among those on board, as per the IANS.
Witnesses reported that many of the passengers belonged to the same family. Some survived as they were standing outside the bus, while their relatives remained inside when it sank.
According to local media reports, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed deep concern over the incident and directed authorities to intensify rescue efforts and ensure proper medical care for the injured.
Doctors at a nearby health facility confirmed that two women were brought in dead, while another woman, who is reportedly a doctor, is undergoing treatment.
(with ANI and IANS inputs)
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