24 drown as boat capsizes in Korotoa river in Panchagarh

At least 24 people drowned after a boat carrying over 100 passengers capsized in the Korotoa river in Panchagarh's Boda upazila this afternoon (September 25, 2022).

Md Johurul Islam, deputy commissioner of Panchagarh, confirmed the development to our Thakurgaon correspondent.

Ten people were admitted to Boda Upazila Health Complex while 70-80 people were rescued from the river after the capsize, said the DC.

DC Johurul Islam said the deceased are believed to be residents of different areas of Boda and Debiganj upazilas.

Of the deceased, 12 were women, eight were children and four were men, said the DC.

According to control room of Mareya Union Parishad, the deceased were identified as Shyamoli Rani (14), Lakshmi Rani (25), Amal Chandra (35), Shobha Rani (27), Dipankar (3), Piyanta (two and a half years old), Rupali alias Khuki Rani (35), Pramila Rani (55), Dhanbala (60), Sunita Rani (60), Falguni (45), Promila Debi (70), Jyotish chandra (55), Tara Rani (25), Soneka Rani (60), Safalata Rani (40), Bilas Chandra (45), Shyamoli Rani alias Shyamoli (35), Ushoshi (8), Tanushree (5), Shreyashi (3), Prionti (5), Bishnu (three and a half years old) and Hashem Ali (70).

The engine-run boat capsized near Awalia ghat under Mareya union around 2:15pm when it was heading towards Bodeshari Hindu temple under Borososhi union, said Sujoy Kumar Roy, officer-in-charge of Boda Police Station.

Around eighty to ninety passengers were on their way to the temple for celebrating Mahalaya.

Three units of fire service from Boda, Panchagarh and Atwari upazilas are carrying out the rescue operations.

According to locals, the boat sank in the mid-river due to overloading of passengers and strong current.

However, police could not confirm the number of missing passengers but locals claimed that 8-10 people remain missing still now.

After the boat capsized, local residents of Aulia Ghat area started the first rescue operation. Abdul Khaleque, 40, a local resident, came to the rescue with a boat used for sand lifting.

Talking to The Daily Star, Khaleque said the overloading passengers was the main reason behind the boat capsize. The boat's capacity was 70-75 passengers, but more than 100 passengers boarded on it.

The boat sank in the river after it moved 50-60 feet ahead from the Awlia ghat.

Meanwhile, the district administration has formed a five- member probe committee, headed by Additional District Magistrate Dipankar Roy, to investigate the incident.

The committee has been asked to submit a report within three days, Dipankar Roy told this correspondent.