The death toll from a boat that capsized after it caught fire in the Surma River in Sunamganj rose to 11 as five more bodies were recovered yesterday morning.
Most of the victims were stone quarry workers. Of them, four were women and two children. The police could identify four of them as Rokeya, 30, Kohinur Mia, 12, Rahman Mia, 12 and Sakib, 7, of Panchhata area in Khaliajuri upazila, Netrakona.
Superintendent of Police in Sunamganj Harunur Rashid told the Dhaka Tribune: “The fire service stopped rescue drives temporarily on 1.30pm after recovering bodies of 11 persons.”
He also said 10 other deceased could not be identified as they were completely burnt. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) called in a rescue team from Dhaka but it had not reached the place till the report was written.
An engine-run boat carrying over 150 labourers was heading towards Mithamain and Khaliajuri from Keraniganj upazila, Sylhet when its engine caught fire and sank in Surma River on Monday evening.
Around 50-60 passengers managed to swim ashore but the rest could not. On information, locals and police rushed to the spot to start rescue drives.
In the beginning, locals and police recovered three bodies including one woman and later fire fighters recovered three more bodies.
The fire fighters are conducting rescue operation. About 60 persons have been rescued so far, said the SP.
Senior Station Officer of Sylhet Fire Service Station Jabed Ahmed Mohammad Tarek said: “Among the 11 bodies recovered, five were children aged between 3-8 years and the rest were adults.”
He said the bodies were burnt completely so they were impossible to identify. Around 10 fire-fighters and locals have been conducting the rescue drive. Police have been making inquest reports and the identities might be known through DNA tests.
The team delayed the rescue drive due to dense fog in the morning but some hours later they resumed the rescue operation, the station officer said. The operation was stopped temporarily as BIWTA divers would conduct a joint operation with fire-fighters, he added.
Jahed Mia, a passenger who survived the accident, said: “I was sitting on the boat when the fire raged through the boat with a big explosion. The boat sank as passengers were moving around in panic.”
He added that passengers who were sitting over the boat managed to save their lives but the rest of the travellers including women and children could not manage to get out of the boat.
Another passenger Amena Begum said: “Cooks were preparing meals for passengers on gas stoves and the passengers were sleeping at that time. Suddenly the gas stove exploded and fire spread through the boat.”
“I saved my life but could not find my younger sister,” she said. Amena could not identify his sister as the recovered bodies were burnt completely.
Yet other witnesses said the silencer of the boat had caught fire around 8:30pm and the fire had quickly engulfed the entire boat.
About 50 remained missing, said witnesses.
Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Yamin Chowdhury and Police Super Harunur Rashid visited the spot on yesterday noon. The administrative officers have announced that a Tk25,000 grant would be given to the families of the deceased and Tk10,000 to other victims.
Assistant Manager of Chatak Fire Service Jahirul Islam said: “Most of the passengers died inside the boat.”
Yamin Chowdhury said: “Administration has been providing financial assistance to the victim’s family. We will investigate the matter.”
No one could give an accurate number for the missing people. Chatak Upazila Executive Officer Ainur Akter Panna said: “Many were sent to the hospitals and others went home, so it is hard to find out the total number of missing people. We have informed BIWTA in this regard.”
Doarabazar police station Officer-in-Charge Selim Newaz said: “Fire burnt the boat completely. It was recovered in the morning.”
Chatak Thana Officer-in-charge- Shahjalal Munshi said they would file an unnatural death case with the police station. No one could give the exact figure of missing people, he added.
