The bus that fell into the Padma River while boarding a ferry at Daulatdia Ghat in Rajbari has gone 90 feet deep. Rescue work is underway after identifying the location of the bus. However, the rescue work is being hampered by rain.
Executive Magistrate of Rajbari District Administration Hafizur Rahman confirmed that the bus is 90 feet deep in water.
The Fire Service Headquarters has informed that more diving teams from the Dhaka Headquarters have reached the spot and are conducting rescue work.
On Wednesday (March 25), at around 5:15 pm, the passenger bus of Sauhardyo Paribahan fell into the river from Pontoon No. 3 of the ferry ghat. So far, two bodies and one person have been recovered alive in this incident. All three of them are women.
According to local and police sources, there were about 50 passengers in the bus. 5-7 of them managed to swim to the bank. The other passengers in the bus are yet to be found.
The officer-in-charge (OC) of Goalanda Police Station said that the passengers are still inside the bus. Rescue work is underway. However, the rescue work is being hampered by heavy rain.
Faridpur Fire Service Commander Md. Belal Uddin told Jago News that by 8:30 pm, the bodies of three women and one woman alive had been recovered and sent to the hospital. It is initially believed that around 40 bodies are underwater.
He also said that after the bus fell into the river, 11 passengers swam to the bank. The rest are underwater.