4 Died after Waterbus Capsizes in Buriganga

Four dead were found late on Sunday night in the Buriganga River, where a waterbus carrying about 100 people had sunk after being struck by a bulkhead covered in sand.

One woman, two men, and a young boy are among the deceased. Their identities were not immediately known. The bodies were kept at the hospital mortuary for autopsy, according to Brig Gen Dr Quazi Md Rashid-Un-Nabi, director of Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital, who verified the development. They were delivered dead.

Eight persons were pulled from the river alive and sent to the hospital; three were treated while they were unconscious, while the others were released after getting care.

Anwarul Islam, a warehouse inspector for the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters media cell, reported that the waterbus sank around 8:15 p.m.

Three firefighting units from the fire stations in Siddik Bazar and Sadarghat raced to the scene to conduct rescue efforts after receiving information. In order to speed up the rescue effort, divers from the Coast Guard joined the firefighters.  

Most of the passengers were able to swim ashore when it capsized not far from the bank of the river.

According to UNB's Keraniganj correspondent, the waterbus was traveling from Waizghat to Keraniganj's Nagarmahal on its final voyage of the day with around 100 passengers when it was struck by a bulkhead covered in sand.

Dakshin Keraniganj police station's OC Mohammad Shah Zaman said they believe most passengers managed to swim ashore.