Five children buried after Jamalpur bridge collapse, probe committee formed

District administration forms a four-member probe committee

Amid a pall of grief, five children who died when a floating bridge over the Brahmaputra River in Jamalpur collapsed during Eid festivities have been buried

The children were laid to rest near their residences on Sunday morning.

Authorities have launched an inquiry into the incident.

Jamalpur Deputy Commissioner Md Yousuf Ali said a four-member inquiry committee has been formed over the incident.

The incident occurred on Eid day on Saturday afternoon in front of Dewanganj Model Police Station, where a makeshift floating bridge had been set up for public movement.

The dead are Khadija, a 12-year-old identified with a single name, and her brother Abdul Motaleb, 6; Rifat, 16, and his sister Mayamoni, 10 -- also identified by single names; and a 16-year-old known only as Abir.

Fire Service and Civil Defence personnel said the floating bridge, built on the occasion of Eid, could not withstand the visitors’ pressure and broke, plunging over 100 people into the water.

While many managed to swim ashore, some children went missing in the water.

Upon receiving the information, the Fire Service, Army, and police jointly launched a rescue effort, and the bodies of the children were recovered with the help of locals.

In addition, financial assistance of Tk 25,000 will be provided to the families of the victims.