Death toll rises to 24 in Narayanganj launch capsize

Rescuers have retrieved 19 more bodies from a sunken launch on the Shitalakkhya river in Narayanganj, taking the death toll to 24.

Earlier, the authorities handed over the bodies of five victims of the launch capsize to their families. Four victims were identified as Sunita Saha, 40, Sokina Begum, 45, Pratima Sharma, 53, and Sauda Aktar Lota, 18.

The bodies of 19 more victims were found after the divers recovered the sunken launch around 12:45 pm on Monday, said Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nahida Barik, reports bdnews24.com.

Family members had registered the names of 28 missing people. After the discovery of 19 more bodies, the number of missing people stands at 9, UNO Nahida said.

Although some victims were able to swim back ashore, many are still missing, said Abdullah Al Arefin, a deputy assistant director at the Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Meanwhile, the district administration formed a seven-member investigation committee.