At least 26 people have died after a passenger bus carrying around 50 people plunged into a river in central Bangladesh while attempting to board a ferry, authorities said.
The accident happened Wednesday afternoon in Rajbari district, about 84 kilometres from the capital, Dhaka. According to fire service official Dewan Sohel Rana, the bus fell into the Padma River as it was driving onto the ferry.
Local government administrator Sultana Akhter confirmed that 26 bodies had been recovered. Authorities began handing over the victims’ remains to their families on Thursday.
The bus was travelling from Kushtia in southwestern Bangladesh to Dhaka as many people returned to work following the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
Rescue officials said several passengers managed to escape by swimming to shore, but others became trapped inside the submerged vehicle.
A rescue vessel was deployed late Wednesday and eventually lifted the bus from the river. Emergency crews worked through the night to recover victims, although strong currents and heavy rain complicated the operation.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether anyone remains missing.
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence Department, the victims include 11 women and five children.
Road accidents remain a major concern in Bangladesh, where thousands of people lose their lives in traffic-related incidents every year.
