Bus Plunges into River During Ferry Boarding in Bangladesh, Killing 24 A passenger bus carrying approximately 40 people crashed into the Padma River while attempting to board a ferry in Bangladesh, resulting in at least 24 fatalities, officials reported. The incident occurred on Wednesday near Daulatdia in Rajbari district, about 100 kilometers from Dhaka. The vehicle lost control as it approached the ferry, overturned, and sank nearly 30 feet into the river, according to police and the Fire Service and Civil Defence. Rescue teams recovered 22 bodies from the submerged bus, including six men, 11 women, and five children, said Fire Service official Talha Bin Zasim. Two additional victims died after being rescued, bringing the confirmed death toll to 24. Search and rescue operations, led by four fire service units and 10 divers, were supported by the army, police, coast guard, and local authorities. Officials expressed concern that more passengers may still be missing. The accident highlights the ongoing challenges of road and ferry safety in Bangladesh, where hundreds of lives are lost annually in such incidents. The Padma River, a major waterway, has been a site of previous tragedies, underscoring the risks faced by commuters relying on these transport routes. Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the crash, but the location near a ferry terminal suggests the accident may have occurred during the process of boarding the vessel. The incident has prompted calls for improved safety measures and infrastructure to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The victims’ families, including relatives who gathered at a mortuary in Rajbari, have been left devastated by the loss.#bangladesh #padma_river #rajbari_district #daulatdia #fire_service
