4 die as boat sinks in haor

At least four children drowned and seven other people went missing as a boat capsized in Kaliakuta haor in Derai upazila of Sunamganj tonight.

The deceased were identified as Shamim Miah, 2, son of Babul Miah and Abir Miah, 3, son of Badrul Miah of Machimpur village in the upazila, Sohan Miah, 1, son of Abjol Miah of Noarchar village and Azam Miah, 2, son of Firoz Ali of Perua village, said KM Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Derai Police Station.

The boat carrying with nearly 31 passengers started its journey from Machimpur village in the evening and sank in the haor around 8:00pm due to a storm, said Liton Shamanta, a local fisherman.

Locals recovered the bodies of four people and rescued 20 people from the water, said OC Nazrul.

However, seven people remain missing till filing this report around 11:30pm.

All the passengers were going to join a wedding ceremony which will be held at Perua village tomorrow, our Sylhet correspondent reports quoting the locals.

Derai Upazila Nirbahi Officer Bishwajit Deb told our correspondent that the fire service and civil defence have been informed and they are on their way to the spot.

However, divers could not reach the spot till filing this report around 11:30pm. Locals continued the rescue operation.