Panchagarh boat capsize: 18 more bodies fished out

The death toll from Sunday's boat capsize in Panchagarh is now 68 after 18 more bodies were recovered yesterday.

The toll may increase further as four people were still missing, Dipankar Roy, the district's additional deputy commissioner, told The Daily Star around 7:00pm.

"We are continuing rescue operations," said Dipankar, also head of the rescue operation control room in Awalia ghat of the district's Boda upazila.

The boat capsized in the Karatoa river not far from Awalia ghat in Mareya union around 2:15pm on Sunday. 

Of the deceased, 30 are women, 21 are children and 17 are men, according to the statistics available at the control room.

Yesterday, the bodies were recovered from the Karatoa river at different places of Boda and Debiganj upazilas in Panchagarh as well as Birganj and Khansama upazilas of Dinajpur.

Many bodies were carried long distances by the strong current. Bodies were found in villages in Dinajpur, around 35 kilometres from the site of the capsize, said Meraj Ali, station in-charge of Birganj Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Solin Chandra Roy, a survivor, said a large number of Hindu devotees were crossing the Karatoa on Sunday on two boats of moderate size to go to the Bodeshwari Temple to take part in rituals centring Mahalaya. There was strong current in the river at the time.

"My 11-year-old nephew Sajib, my wife Sumita and I boarded the boat. There were some 100 to 120 passengers on our boat," he said.

"It started wobbling just after leaving the ghat. The wobbling got worse as we moved a short distance ahead. All the passengers were panicking. At one stage, the boat tilted to one side and water started gushing in and then it finally overturned," Solin said.

"I kept holding Sajib's and Sumita's hands tightly, but both slipped away due to the strong current. I cannot say how I was able to swim to shore," said Solin.

On Monday, their bodies were recovered from the river bank in Basuli village of Khansama upazila, said Rudreshwar Chandra Roy, Solin's younger brother.

Family members and relatives of the people missing were desperately searching for their near and dear ones. They were seen walking listlessly on the bank and around the control room.

"My two little sisters -- Joty and Joya -- drowned. Joty is two years old and Joya is four. Joty's body was found on Monday. But Joya is still missing," said Santa Roy, 16, a resident of Ghatiarpara village in Panchagarh Sadar upazila.

Immediately after the accident, the district administration formed a five-member probe body led by ADC Dipankar Roy. The body was asked to submit the probe report in three days.

"We have almost completed our work. We hope to submit the report to our higher authorities tonight [last night]," Dipankar said yesterday.

Meanwhile, many people of the area were angry and alleged that authorities concerned did not take any measure to construct a bridge on this river, despite repeated appeals in the past.

"We have been demanding construction of a bridge here for long," said Sakhawat Hossain,45, a resident of Mareya Sardarpara village in Boda upazila.

On Sunday, the engine-boat flipped over with around 100 passengers.

The bodies of victims recovered yesterday are: Dola Rani, 5, Kabita Rani, 9, Driti Rani, 10, Sajib Roy, 10, Putul Rani, 15, Bhumika Roy Puja, 15, Akhi Rani, 15, Polash Chandra, 15, Shoilobala, 51, Soneka Rani, 55, Hori Kishore Roy, 45, Sintu Barman, 32, Mohon Chandra, 30, Sumi Rani, 38, Ratna Rani, 40, Molindranath Barman, 56, Monibhushan, 46, and Monika Rani, 36.

[Our Thakurgaon and Dinajpur correspondent contributed to the report]