25 missing as 2 anchored launches capsize in Padma

• MV Mahanagar and Nariya-2 capsize

• Identities of the missing people not known yet

• Search underway with help of locals

• 3 people rescued

At least 25 people went missing as two anchored launches capsized in Padma river due to sudden erosion at Chairman Ghat in Nariya upazila of Shariatpur this morning.

The sunken launches -- MV Mahanagar and Nariya-2 -- are of the route between Shariatpur and Narayanganj.

Another launch, MV Mouchak-2, of Dhaka-Shariatpur route, which anchored at Chairman Ghat at 5:00am, drifted away by strong waves of the river.

Relatives with a rescued passenger at a local hospital. Photo: Star

A total of six launches anchored at the ghat early today.

Identities of the missing people including the launch staff and passengers were not known immediately, a correspondent from Madaripur reports quoting police and locals.

People gather by the riverbank in Padma after the sinking of the launches. Photo: Star

Meanwhile, a search operation is underway with the help of locals to rescue the missing people, Ehsan Shah, additional superintendent of Shariatpur police, said told the correspondent.

Efforts are being made to locate the sunken launches, the police official said.

Soon after the launches capsized, three persons were rescued. They are: Sarwar, a cabin boy of another launch named Sureshwar-2 and hailing from Hailsar village, Mohammad Ali, a passenger, and Noor Islam, a cook of Lonsing village.

Relatives with a rescued passenger at a local hospital. Photo: Star

The three rescued people were admitted to Mulfatganj Upazila Health Complex.

The erosion devoured 30 percent of the riverbank in the ghat area, locals said.

The three rescued people were admitted to Mulfatganj Health Complex in the upazila.

Sohag Mia, an eyewitness of the accident said, "The launches capsized in front of my eyes. There were 50 to 60 people in the three launches."

Mohamed Ali a passenger of Mouchak-2 launch, said, although he managed to get to the shore, his wife, mother-in-law and five-day-old daughter remain missing. They came from Dhaka.

Rough river: Shimulia to Kathalbari, Majhirghat routes suspended

Authorities today suspended Kathalbari-Shimulia and Majhirghat-Shimulia routes around 11:15am due to rough condition in the Padma river, Salam Hossain, manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) in Kawrakandi ferry terminal, told the correspondent.