Sunamganj Boat Tragedy
Death toll rises to 15 as search operation called off
With recovery of two more bodies yesterday, the death toll from Tuesday's boat capsize in Shoilchapra haor under Dharmapasha upazila of Sunamganj district rose to 15.
The bodies found yesterday are of Rony Akhtar, 14, and Nahida Begum. Both were students of Badshaganj Girls High School.
Search for another missing student named Zaria, 15, daughter of Abdul Quddus of Balijuri village, was going on as of filing of this report at 6:00pm.
Fire Service divers, who reached Dharmapasha at 9:30pm on Tuesday, declared their job ended before going back to the capital yesterday morning.
Contacted, Dharmapasha Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Babul Miah said all the 15 bodies were buried at a graveyard at Balijuri village after Janaja yesterday afternoon. He said the district administration had given Tk 3,000 for burial of each of the deceased.
The small engine boat with over 50 passengers aboard sank in the haor at around 9:30am due to overloading and strong current in the haor.
All the passengers were from Balijuri heading towards Shelborosh of the upazila, said Upazila Chairman Awal Talukder. He immediately sanctioned
Tk 2,000 for burial of each of the deceased.
About 30 students of Badshaganj Girls' High School and Badshaganj Pilot High School were on the boat on their way to school, said Shamsuddin Ahmed, principal of Badshaganj Degree College. The boys managed to swim ashore, he said.
Thirteen bodies were recovered on Tuesday. The victims were identified as Hashi, 14, Nurpur, 13, Nobija Khatun, 35, wife of Fazal Haque and her five- month-old child Babu, Tajul Islam, 1, son of Nurul Islam, Akilama, 1, daughter of Deen Islam, her brother-Rahul,4, Swapna,12, daughter of Abdur Rab Miah, Poshaker ma, 55, Rokeya Begum, 35, Jharna Begum,14, Monimala,15, former UP member Hajera Begum, 55, Rony Akhtar, 14 and Nahida Begum, 15.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments