At least 16 people have been confirmed dead after a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River at Daulatdia ferry ghat in Rajbari yesterday afternoon, with several others still reported missing.
The accident occurred around 5:15pm when a bus operated by Souharda Paribahan lost control while waiting to board a ferry at pontoon No. 3 and fell into the river, according to officials and witnesses.
How the accident unfolded
Sources at the ghat said the bus reached Daulatdia shortly after 5:00pm and was waiting for a ferry after another vessel had just departed. At that time, a small utility ferry named “Hasna Hena” struck the pontoon with force, causing the bus to lose balance and plunge into the river.
Passenger count unclear
Though the bus has a capacity of around 45, officials said there were nearly 50 people on board, including the driver and helper. However, some passengers reportedly got down before boarding the ferry, leaving the exact number of passengers at the time of the accident uncertain.
Rescue efforts
Divers from Fire Service and Civil Defence launched a rescue operation soon after the incident. Initial efforts were hampered by bad weather and strong currents, but operations intensified after 9:00pm.
The sunken bus was located about 30 feet underwater and later lifted with the help of salvage vessel “Hamza” around 11:30pm. Bodies were recovered one by one from inside the bus after it was brought to the surface.
Casualties and survivors
So far, 16 bodies have been recovered, officials said. Around 10 to 11 passengers managed to swim ashore. Among the survivors is a female doctor, who is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
Heartbreaking accounts
Eight-year-old Alif, who survived the incident, said his mother pushed him out through a window as the bus sank. While he managed to reach the shore, his mother remains missing.
In another instance, a woman reportedly called a relative saying, “The bus is falling into the Padma,” before the line disconnected. She is now among the missing.
Grief and anger
The ghat area turned into a scene of grief as relatives gathered, many still searching for their loved ones.
Locals alleged delays in deploying rescue resources despite a salvage vessel being nearby, claiming the delay contributed to the rising death toll. Authorities, however, cited adverse weather as a major challenge.
An investigation is expected to determine the exact cause of the accident and fix responsibility.
