7 children swept away by Meghna, rescued

Seven children were rescued yesterday from the currents of the Meghna River, which is swollen due to high tides caused by the full moon.

According to a local chairman, AbulHashemMahajan, the children were all students of Char Patila Governmet Primary School of Bhola'sCharfashionupazila.

The children had been playing on a village road when tidal waters suddenly inundated the area and swept them into the river.

Fortunately Nurnobi, a volunteer in a local cyclone preparedness programme, heard their screams and, after jumping into the river was able to rescue them.

The rescued children are:Farzana, 9, daughter of Md. Noman;Shanta, 10, daughter of Md. Hanif;Sumaiya, 8, daughter of NesarMajhi;Javed, 10, son of Abdul Sattar;Ema, 10, daughter of EmamHossain; Rima, 8, daughter of Kitab Ali, and; Salma, 10, daughter of Nur E. Alam.

The chairman says he heard of the incident from Nurnobi who took the children to South Aica health centre by speed boat for medical examination after they were rescued.

Local medical officer Sourav Das told The Daily Star the students were subsequently referred to Charfashion Upazila Health Complex.