Daulatdia bus disaster: Rescue operation enters third day

“We have heard reports that one person is missing, but their family members have not been able to confirm whether they were on the bus,” a rescue official says

The Fire Service has launched its third day of rescue operations following the sinking of a bus at the Daulatdia No. 3 Ferry Dock in Rajbari.

The operation began at 8:30am on Friday, according to Sohel Rana, deputy assistant director of the Rajbari Fire Service.

Fire Service diving squad, Coast Guard, and Navy personnel are involved in the operation. The River Police are making public announcements from speed boats, calling on people to report any dead bodies in the water. However, the families who had lined up over the past two days to wait for news of their missing loved ones were not there on Friday.

A Dhaka-bound Showhardo Paribahan bus from Kushtia’s Kumarkhali was waiting at the dock around 5:15pm on Wednesday to board a ferry when it veered out of control on the pontoon and plunged into the turbulent waters.

The district administration, Upazila administration, police, and Armed Forces rushed to the scene when the incident was reported. The Fire Service diving squad and River police began rescue operations. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Association (BIWTA) rescue vessel “Hamza” joined the efforts soon afterwards.

Three bodies were initially recovered from the scene. The death toll leapt up once a crane was used to lift the bus out of the water.

Fire Service official Sohel said that 26 people had died so far in the incident. As of Thursday afternoon, no new reports of missing people had been made at the dock.

“We did receive a report regarding one missing person. However, the family cannot confirm whether they were a passenger on the bus. Still, we are continuing our rescue efforts.”