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Death toll in ferry capsizal in Bangladesh rises to 38

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-22 15:58

DHAKA -- The death toll of Thursday's ferry capsizal in Bangladesh's southern Barisal district has risen to 38 on Sunday after another seven bodies were retrieved from River Kirtankhola, local police said.

They said around a dozen of people were still missing. The number of death toll rose to 31 after recovery of four missing bodies on Saturday.

"Another seven missing bodies were recovered on Sunday which takes the number of total death toll to 38 from 31 on Saturday," Mohammad Nuruzzaman Chowdhury, local police officer, told Xinhua on Sunday.

Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of a Model Police Station of Barisal district, said relatives have recovered the missing bodies on Sunday morning from nearby areas where the ferry capsized.

The ferry, carrying on board 150 passengers, capsized on Thursday morning in Kirtankhola river in Barisal district, about 169 km away of capital Dhaka, after it was hit by a cargo from behind.

Local police earlier said around 50 people went missing as the ferry capsized. Nearly after eight hours of relentless efforts rescue divers managed to salvage the sunken ferry on Thursday evening, they said.  

Ferry disasters are common in Bangladesh, as the country is criss-crossed by about 250 rivers, and ferry is a key means of transport. Scores of people are killed each year from ferry disasters in the country.