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2nd LD Writethru: 4 dead, 14 missing as boat sinks in Bangladesh river

Xinhua, March 28, 2017 Adjust font size:

At least 4 people have been killed and 14 still missing after a jam-packed boat capsized in the river of Panguchi in Bangladesh's Bagerhat district, some 178 km southwest of capital Dhaka, on Tuesday morning.

The district's police chief Pankaj Chandra Roy told Xinhua over mobile phone that the boat carrying some 70 passengers sank at about 10:30 a.m. local time Tuesday.

"The bodies of three women and a child have already been recovered," he said.

Roy said rescue efforts and a search for the missing are under way by divers of Fire Service and Civil Defence and Bangladesh Navy.

"At least 14 people are still missing," he said

Police and rescue officials said about 50 people swam to shore as the jam-packed boat capsized in a strong current and choppy river waters.

Masud Sarder, a deputy assistant director of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the rescuers have been struggling against a strong current and choppy river waters.

He said the boat has been salvaged and brought into shore. The boat sank due to overloading, he added.

Ferry and boat disasters are common in Bangladesh, which is crisscrossed by about 250 rivers. Ferry is still a key means of transport in the country, most of them are often overcrowded. Endit