Boat carrying Hindu devotees to historic temple capsises in Bangladesh; 24 killed, a number of lacking

At least 24 folks, largely kids and girls, have been killed on Sunday after a ship carrying Hindu devotees to a centuries-old temple capsised in a river in northwestern Bangladesh, officers mentioned.

The demise toll is predicted to rise additional as no less than 25 others are lacking after the incident in Bangladesh’s Panchagarh district.

The devotees have been heading in the direction of the Bodeshwari Temple on the event of Mahalaya, the auspicious begin of the Durga Puja competition, when the boat capsised within the Korotoa River.

“Around 24 people, including 8 children and 12 women have died in the incident so far. Some of them were declared dead after they were brought to a local hospital,” Solaiman Ali, administrative chief of Panchagargh’s Boda sub-district, informed reporters.

He mentioned searches by firefighters and native divers have been underway for the lacking ones, including the variety of passengers was assumed to be between 70 and 80.

Some survivors, who managed to swim ashore, are concerned within the rescue operations.

Ali mentioned the engine-run boat was carrying Hindu devotees to the centuries-old Bodeshwari Temple.

Panchagargh’s administrative chief or deputy commissioner Zahurul Haque mentioned the boat was apparently carrying passengers past its capability.

Thousands of Hindus within the Muslim-majority Bangladesh go to the Bodeshwari Temple yearly throughout the Durga Puja, which started in Bangladesh on Sunday.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have expressed condolences to the victims’ households in separate statements.

Local officers have been requested to take steps for survivors’ remedy and compensation for the lifeless.

The Durga Puja is the most important Hindu competition in Bangladesh and in jap India.

Deltaic Bangladesh is crisscrossed by a number of hundred rivers whereas lots of of individuals die annually in boat and ferry accidents in Bangladesh, largely because of overcrowding.

Twenty-six folks died in May after an overcrowded velocity boat collided with a sand-laden bulk service and sank on the Padma River.