18 bodies were recovered and several other passengers were still missing after a passenger bus fell and drowned in the Padma River at Daulatdia Ghat in Bangladesh on Wednesday, March 25. A video of the bus falling into the river surfaced on social media.
Two bodies were initially recovered after the accident, and later, the rescue vessel Hamza lifted the submerged bus at 11.50 pm, during which 16 more bodies were found, said Deputy Assistant Director of Rajbari Fire Service and Civil Defence, Dewan Sohel Rana.
The deceased, identified as four men, ten women, and two children, said the Fire Services and Civil Defence media wing. Two of the deceased were identified as Rehena Begum, 60, and Marjina Begum, 55, confirmed by the Resident Medical Officer of Daulatdia Upazila Health Complex, Dr Md Shariful Islam, reported by The Daily Star.
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A video of the incident went viral on social media, showing a red-coloured private passenger bus falling into the river after losing control. People at the spot panicked and ran towards the bus, but were unable to stop it from sinking into too deep waters.
The police said 11 passengers were able to swim to safety. The fire official said that at least 40 passengers were on board at the time of the accident. The accident occurred at around 5 PM when the passenger bus arrived at pontoon number 3. At around 5.15 pm, a small utility ferry, Hasna Hena, struck the pontoon with force. The impact caused the bus to lose control and fall into the river.