As darkness fell over the river at Daulatdia Ferry Terminal, the search for survivors turned into a painful wait. Hours after a passenger bus plunged into the Padma, rescuers recovered the bodies of two women – unidentified, silent, and the first confirmed victims of a disaster that may yet claim many more lives.
The first body was recovered around 7:30 pm, said Faridpur Fire Service Commander Md Belal Uddin, and sent to the hospital. But beneath the river, fears are growing that dozens remain trapped. He later informed of recovering one more body of a woman and rescuing one woman alive.
The accident took place on Wednesday afternoon at Pontoon 3, when a Sauhardya Paribahan bus carrying around 40 passengers fell into the river. What began as a routine stop at the busy ferry terminal quickly turned into chaos.
According to the transport company’s ferry terminal supervisor, Md Monir Hossain, the bus had arrived at the terminal around 5:00 pm and was waiting for the next ferry after one departed for Paturia. At approximately 5:15 pm, a utility ferry named Hasna Hena struck the pontoon.
The impact was sudden and forceful. The bus lost balance and rolled into the river before many on board could react, he claimed.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic – passengers shouting, some scrambling out through windows, others disappearing with the sinking vehicle. Locals rushed to help, pulling a few survivors from the water, but many could not escape.
Rescue operations began soon after, with divers and fire service personnel working against time and difficult conditions. Two divers and two assistant divers from Faridpur, along with a five-member fire service team, are on site. Additional specialised diving units from Dhaka are being deployed to accelerate the effort.
However, the operation faces serious challenges.
According to members of the diving team, the bus is lodged beneath the pontoon, making it extremely difficult to access. The position of the vehicle has made it nearly impossible to break windows or doors to reach those inside.
Officials now fear the worst. Initial estimates suggest that as many as 40 passengers, including women and children, may still be inside the submerged bus.
On the riverbank, families and onlookers wait in anxious silence, watching the water for any sign of movement. With each passing hour, hope fades, replaced by a growing sense of loss.
The Padma continues to flow as it always has, but on this night, it carries the weight of a tragedy that is still unfolding.