24 dead after bus falls into river while boarding ferry in Bangladesh

DHAKA: At least 24 people died after a passenger bus carrying around ​40 passengers plunged into the Padma ‌River while attempting to board a ferry in Bangladesh, officials said on Thursday.

The accident occurred ​on Wednesday when the bus lost ​control approaching a ferry at Daulatdia ⁠in Rajbari district, about 100 kilometres from Dhaka. The bus overturned and sank ​nearly nine metres into the river, according to police and the fire service and civil defense.

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Rescuers recovered 22 bodies from inside ​the submerged bus, including six men, 11 women ‌and ⁠five children, Fire Service official Talha Bin Zasim said.

Twenty-four people have been confirmed dead so far, including two women who ​died after ​being rescued, ⁠he said.

Four fire service units and 10 divers were leading ​the search and rescue efforts, supported ​by ⁠the army, police, coast guard, and local authorities.

Officials fear more passengers may still be ⁠missing. ​Hundreds of people die ​each year in road and ferry accidents in Bangladesh.