Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– The death toll from the launch capsize in the Meghna River at Gazaria upazila in the country’s central Munshiganj district rose to 47 till Wednesday morning with recovery of 11 more bodies.
Rescuers recovered the 11 bodies as they resumed their rescue operation around 7:00am Wednesday at Char Kishori in Gazaria upazila (sub-district) where the launch, MV Shariatpur-1, capsized after colliding with a cargo vessel on Tuesday, according to reports.
Thirty-six bodies were recovered from the river on the first day and more than 200 remain missing.
A government official said 34 of the dead victims have been identified so far and 31 bodies were handed over to their families.
To expedite the salvage operation, rescue vessel Hamza reached Char Kishori from Barisal around 1:30am on Wednesday to join another rescue vessel Rustom, which was working at the spot since Tuesday morning.
BBN/SSR/AD-14Mar12-10:50 am (BST)
