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200 missing as another launch sinks in Jamuna

Patuakhali toll soars to 78

STAR REPORT
Two children drowned and at least 200 people went missing in a launch disaster in river Jamuna near Arichaghat yesterday evening while 32 more bodies were recovered from the scene of Sunday's launch accident in Patuakhali.
Our correspondent from Manikganj reports: MV Raipura with more than 200 passengers capsized in Jamuna in Shibalaya upazila of Manikganj after it was
buffeted by a severe storm at about 4:30pm yesterday. Witnesses said 20 people managed to swim ashore while many are feared trapped inside the vessel.
Bodies of two children were recovered, and of them, one was identified as Russell, 4, of Sujanagar, Pabna. Rescue operation was going on until filing this report at 7:30pm. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has already dispatched
salvage ship MV Rustam and a team of divers to the scene.
The vessel, coming from Notakholaghat of Bera upazila of Pabna, was carrying more than its capacity of 150 passengers, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) sources said.
In the last one decade, over 4,000 people died in major launch accidents in the country. The government however put the number at about 3,000.
Our correspondent from Patuakhali adds: With yesterday's recovery, the death count rose to 78. Of the bodies, 35 were found floating in the river and 43 stuck inside the vessel.
Several hundred people including relatives of the missing passengers were still waiting on the banks of the river. Many were scouring the river themselves with boats and trawlers to find bodies of their dear ones.
Police yesterday seized Prince of Patuakhali, the sunken launch, which was salvaged on Monday. They kept the vessel tied to the pontoon of Char Kazal launch ghat.
Galachipa upazila administration yesterday closed the control room at the launch terminal though some police were still guarding the area.
Shilmony Chakma, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Golachipa Police Station said the upazila administration and police have recorded the death toll to be 60. Of those, 56 were identified and handed over to relatives while four remain unidentified.
He said 25 more were still missing.
The launch, which sailed from Patuakhali for Char Montaz of Galachipa, sank at about 11.00am Sunday. But no case was filed in this connection until yesterday evening, the OC told The Daily Star.