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500 feared dead as ferry capsizes in Bangladesh

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA July 9. Nearly 500 passengers are missing after a ferry, said to be carrying about 800 passengers, capsized in the turbulent confluence of the Meghna and Dakatia rivers near the southern port town of Chandpur late on Tuesday.

Rescuers searching frantically for the last 24 hours could find only two bodies. Officials said they were yet to salvage the launch lying on the river bed 150 feet below.

The Dhaka-Lalmohan triple-deck launch, mv Nasrin-1, capsized as it got caught in a storm, said local sources. But others claimed it sank as the `sareng' (master of the launch) took a sharp turn to head for the Chandpur port town for a break.

There was no independent confirmation of the actual number of passengers although it was certain that the launch was carrying more passengers than it should.

Survivors alleged that the launch was jam-packed and was carrying cargo too.

Some Dhaka newspapers said it was carrying passengers nearly three times its capacity.

Officials in Chandpur said more than 200 passengers swam ashore. mv Hamza, a rescue vessel, is at the spot. Officials fear that once the launch is salvaged hundreds of bodies may be found trapped inside.

The banks of the Meghna were crowded with anxious relatives of the passengers.

The Government has constituted a committee to probe the disaster. At least 10 such ferry disasters had occurred during the current monsoon.

While the official toll in these capsizes is 600, unofficially the number of deaths is more than 1,000 during the past few months.

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