Published on 10:53 PM, July 21, 2019

Taxi falls into Turag while overtaking bus

Says eyewitness; rescue operation going on

Diver teams from Savar, Mirpur and Banani fire service stations continue a search and rescue operation today, Monday, after a taxi cab fell into the river at Aminbazar area in Savar on the outskirts of Dhaka after its driver lost control on last night, July 21, 2019. Photo: Star

-- Cops confirm fall based on CCTV footage

-- Eyewitness says accident happened during overtaking

-- Number of passengers in taxi unknown 

-- Location of vehicle still unknown 

-- Rescue operation tough amid heavy current in river

-- 10 divers, 1 boat used in search

-- 25 rescuers in 4 teams working at spot

The ill-fated yellow-coloured taxicab was overtaking a bus near the bridge over Turag river in Savar, an eyewitness said.

Jashim, 35, who was passing the area by a rickshaw at the time of the accident, also heard a loud noise, our Savar correspondent reports quoting the eyewitness. 

Diver teams from Savar, Mirpur and Banani fire service stations conducting a search and rescue operation after a taxi cab fell into the river at Aminbazar area in Savar on the outskirts of Dhaka after its driver lost control on July 21, 2019. Photo: Palash Khan
   

The taxi cab plunged into the river at Aminbazar area in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, around 8:30pm yesterday.

The search and rescue operation for the sunken car has become tougher this morning due to a heavy current in the river.

Fire Service and Civil Defence officials conducting a search and rescue operation at Aminbazar area in Savar on the outskirts of Dhaka after a taxi cab fell into the river on July 21, 2019. Photo: Palash Khan

Members of the firefighters with the help of locals could not yet locate the submerged vehicle in the river, Anwarul Haque, commander (Dhaka Zone-4) of Fire Service and Civil Defence, told The Daily Star in the morning.

Number of passengers inside the vehicle is still unknown, the correspondent said.

On information, diver teams from Savar, Mirpur and Banani fire service stations went to the spot and began the operation.