ZCZC
BSS-04
BOAT-CAPSIZE-DEATHS-RAJSHAHI (with picture)
Death toll rises to 10 in Rajshahi boat capsize
RAJSHAHI, March 9, 2020 (BSS) – Death toll rose to ten after recovery of
the last missing body of the bride following the boat capsized in Padma River
adjacent to the Rajshahi city on Friday evening.
Local fishermen found the floating body of Sweety Akter Purnima, 20, and
recovered it from the Padma river adjacent to Shayampur Ghat in Rajshahi at
around 7 am today.
Earlier on, rescue teams through their hectic operations recovered eight
other floating bodies from separate areas in the river since the capsize
incident.
On Friday night, a baby identified as Moriom Khatun, 6, died at Rajshahi
Medical College Hospital (RMCH), where she was admitted following the boat
capsize incident.
Talking to BSS here Abdur Rashid, Deputy Director of the Department of
Fire Service and Civil Defense, said 32 people including the bride groom have
been recovered alive.
Quoting local people, he added that two boats carrying around 38
passengers of a bridal party from Char Khanpur was heading towards the city’s
boat ghat. On the way, the boats capsized at Shrirampur around 7 pm as those
were caught by a gusty wind.
A total of four rescue teams from Fire Service and Civil Defense, BIWTA
and BGB are conducted drives to recover the missing people.
Meanwhile, the district administration has formed a seven-member probe
committee headed by Additional District Magistrate Abu Aslam to unearth the
reason behind the accident and to assess the losses.
Deputy Commissioner Hamidul Haque said each of the deceased families
will be given Taka 20,000 and step has been taken to bear the treatment
expenses of all the rescued people.
BSS/AH/MR/FI/1222 hrs