3 die as boat capsizes in Brahmaputra river

Three people including a child died and six went missing as a boat capsized in Brahmaputra river in Gaibandha this morning.

Deceased Rokeya Begum, 45, of Dhutichora village; Feroza Bewa, 50, of Dakhin Gideri village; and Santwana Khatun, 10, of same village in Sadar upazila, reports our local correspondent.

According to the witnesses, a boat carrying 40 people was on way to Dhutichara Char from Nayagram in Gideri union around 11:00am.

When the boat reached in the mid river, it capsized and nine of its passengers went missing, the witnesses said.

Later locals recovered three bodies. Six are still missing, they added.

Fire fighters rushed to the spot and conducted a rescue operation. Many of the passengers managed to swim ashore.

Bakhtier Uddin, a fire fighter, said the boat capsized as it was carrying passengers beyond its’ capacity.