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Karatoya trawler capsize

Death toll climbs to 46, another 40 missing


Published : 26 Sep 2022 10:05 PM

The death toll from the trawler capsize in the Karatoya River rose to 46 as 10 more bodies were retrieved from the river in Boda upazila of Panchagarh Monday.

Divers from three firefighting units recovered the ten bodies from different spots of the river from 6am Monday, said Deputy Assistant Director of Panchagarh Fire Service and Civil Defence Sheikh Mohammad Mahabubul Islam.

Among the dead was Kabita Rani, 50. The identities of the nine others could not be confirmed yet.

Of the 46 victims 19 were women and twelve children, said SM Sirajul Huda, superintendent of Panchagarh Police.

He said they have received a list of 40 missing people from their relatives.

Meanwhile, a five-member probe body, headed by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Dipankar Roy, has been formed to investigate the capsize, said Md Zahurul Islam, deputy commissioner of Panchagarh.

The committee has been asked to submit its report within three working days.

On Sunday, the overloaded trawler carrying 60-70 passengers, mostly Hindu devotees, sank in the middle of the river while heading towards Badheshwar Temple on the occasion of Mayalaya around 2:30pm.

 Twenty five bodies were recovered from the river on that day while many others managed to swim ashore.

 The operation to trace the missing ones is underway.

 BSS adds: In the rescue operation, 17 bodies have been recovered till filling of the report Monday afternoon since the morning after a boat capsized in the Karatoya River on Sunday afternoon, Boda Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sujoy Kumar Roy said.

Among the deceased, 22 are women, 11 children and eight men.

Earlier, 24 bodies were recovered after a boat carrying over a hundred passengers beyond its capacity capsized in the river in northern Panchagarh district.

 Passengers were going to Badeshwari temple on the occasion of the celebration of Mahalaya, the auspicious occasion heralding the advent of goddess Durga.

 Deputy Commissioner (DC) Zahurul Islam said a five-member probe committee has been formed to look into the incident and the committee has been asked to submit its report by three working days.

The bodies of those identified have been handed over to their relatives, the DC added.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan, Thakurgaon-1 constituency lawmaker Ramesh Chandra Sen and Dinajpur-1 lawmaker Manoranjan Shil Gopal visited the scene.