Dhaka [Bangladesh], March 28: At least 24 people have died in central Bangladesh after a bus plunged into the Padma River.
The bus, which was carrying 40 passengers, lost control on Wednesday as it approached a ferry at Daulatdia in Rajbari district, about 100km (62 miles) from Dhaka, officials said on Thursday.
Rescuers recovered 22 bodies from inside the submerged bus, including five children, 11 women and six men, fire service official Talha Bin Qasim said. Two more women died later, after being rescued, he said. The overturned bus sank nearly 9 metres (30 feet) into the river, according to emergency workers.
"The bus was waiting to board a ferry when it fell into the river," Noor Jahan Begum, 35, who witnessed the accident, told the AFP news agency. "Some passengers got out of the bus, but their family members died, trapped inside."
Footage shared online and verified by Al Jazeera shows the bus toppling over an edge and plunging into the river. Amid the sound of shouting and screams of shock, people can be seen joining the rescue efforts, throwing long scarves to pull passengers out from the water as they desperately try to swim towards the terminal. Four fire service units and 10 divers led search and rescue efforts, supported by the army, police, coastguard and local authorities.
Source: Qatar Tribune