120 still missing after Munshiganj launch capsize

Munshiganj, Aug 5 (UNB) – At least 120 people remained missing till Tuesday afternoon, a day after a launch with 250 passengers on board sank in the Padma River near Mawa Ghat in Lauhajang upazila on Monday. Deputy Commissioner Md Saiful Hasan said 100 passengers were rescued alive while over 120 others remained missing since the launch capsized. Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, while visiting the spot today, said a salvage ship,‘Jarip-11’, set out from Chittagong for the spot. Two other rescue vessels — ‘Rustam’ and ‘Nirbhik’ — are conducting the rescue operation but their work is being hampered due to strong currents in the mighty river. The accident took place when the overloaded launch, Pinak-6, from Kawrakandi capsized in the river 800 yards off Mawa Ghat (jetty) around 11:15 am Monday due to strong current while it was heading towards the jetty. Divers from Fire Brigade and Civil Defence, Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard have been conducting the rescue drive. However, the bodies of two women were recovered from the river on Monday. The divers failed to locate the sunken launch till the afternoon due to bad weather. BIWTA sources said 13 divers of Navy, fire brigade and BIWTA were working relentlessly to salvage the launch. Besides, a high tech machine, ‘Side-scan Sonar’, recently imported from Australia is being used in searching the launch. The Ministry of Shipping formed a seven-member probe committee while Mercantile Marine Department a four-member committee to probe the incident.