At least 127 people were feared dead after an overcrowded ferry with up to 250 passengers on board sank in the Padma river in Bangladesh, as rescuers struggled to locate survivors in choppy waters. "Five more bodies were retrieved today as they were found afloat from Hymechar," an area which is located miles downstream off the accident site at Munshiganj, magistrate Abul Kalam told reporters.
About 110 people have been rescued, while 127 still remain untraced as rescuers, fearing people were trapped inside the sunken Pinak-6 or washed away by the strong currents of the Padma, raced against time to locate survivors.
Strong current in the turbulent river apparently upturned the boat yesterday which was carrying nearly double the number of passengers than its capacity as it was crossing the Padma. Over 100 passengers, however, were rescued alive by vessels and speedboats within hours of the accident. Authorities mobilised two salvage vessels to retrieve the ferry while navy and coastguard divers joined the fire brigade rescuers but officials said the strong current and the bad weather made it difficult for them to locate it under water.
An official of the Bangladesh Water Transport Authority, however, admitted that their sonar system appeared a little ineffective in tracking down the ferry as the underwater current might have pushed the vessel elsewhere where it sank.