Munshiganj, Bangladesh (BBN)-Frantic effort to locate the sunken launch, “Pinak-6”, is going on as another salvage ship joined the rescue fleet on Friday.
Salvage ship, “Jarip-10”, having modern equipment to locate the sunken vessel, reached Mawa Friday morning five days after it drawn in the Padma River.
Three more rescue ships have been operating since the tragedy took place Monday morning.
Rescuers are seen to fight against powerful currents and heavy rain in hopes of recovering bodies from the an overloaded sunken launch.
So far, 37 bodies were found floating on different parts of the river.
The bodies were found in Bhola, Shariatpur, Barisal, Chandpur, Mawa in Munshiganj, Laxmipur and Madaripur.
Of the bodies 19 were handed over to the victims’ family members for burial, the district administration sources said.
The bodies which remain unclaimed will be buried after Johr prayers.
The bodies were kept at Pachhar Primary School premises in Shipchar upaizla of Madaripur district for identification.
According to Munshiganj district sources, a total of 130 people remained missing till Friday.
The launch, MV Pinak-6, carrying over 200 passengers against the capacity of 85 capsized in the middle of the river near Mawa Terminal in Lauhajang upazila of Munshiganj, a central district of Bangladesh, Monday morning.
Capsize is the result of strong current following stormy weather, locals said.
Meanwhile, the relatives of the missing passengers got furious as the authorities failed to trace the ill-fated launch even today.
“Jarip-10” and “Kandari-2” have started operation in the morning using the modern equipment to locate the sunken launch.
Earlier, salvage vessels-Nirbhik and Rustam-reached the spot but failed to locate the launch due to strong currents in the mighty river.
The divers had been unable to locate the wreckage on the riverbed, roughly 80 feet below the surface.
Ferry accidents are common in Bangladesh due to poor safety standards for the vessels, which are often overloaded.
BBN/JI/AD-08Aug14-2:00pm (BST)