Dhaka, March 26: A devastating bus accident in Bangladesh has resulted in the deaths of at least 18 individuals. According to local media reports, a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River from a pontoon at the Daulatdia ferry terminal in the Gopalganj district.
The Dhaka Tribune reported that the incident occurred around 5:15 PM on Wednesday. The bus was en route from Kumarkhali in Kushtia to Dhaka when it lost control while waiting to cross the river.
Witnesses stated that the bus was carrying approximately 50 passengers, who were picked up from various stops along the way. The rescue ship Hamza managed to recover the submerged bus after six hours. Initially, reports indicated that around 35 people were missing.
Mohammad Belal Uddin, commander of the Faridpur Fire Service, confirmed, “We have learned that at least 35 individuals are missing. The rescue operation is ongoing.”
By around 11:15 PM, part of the vehicle was visible, and by 11:30 PM, a crane was used to lift the entire bus. The fire service reported that 16 bodies were recovered from inside the bus late Wednesday night, including two children, ten women, and four men.
Earlier, officials from the Rajbari district administration confirmed 14 fatalities. Two additional passengers rescued were declared dead at the Gopalganj Health Complex, bringing the total death toll to 18. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident while rescue teams continue to search for missing passengers.
Tanmay Ahmed, the counter master for Shoharado Transport, stated that the bus departed from Kumarkhali around 2:30 PM with eight passengers. He added, “Along the way, seven boarded in Khoksa, four in Machpara, and fifteen in Pangsha.”
According to him, the 40-seater bus had a total of 50 passengers, including the driver and helper. Fire service officials reported that at least two deaths have been confirmed, and about ten people were rescued alive, while over 35 remained missing late into the night.
Fire service officials indicated that the bus was trapped about 30 feet below the surface, making it difficult for divers to access due to broken doors and windows. Families of the victims are in deep distress as they await news of their loved ones.
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