Divers yesterday recovered seven more bodies from the launch that capsized in the Golachipa river in Patuakhali during a nor'wester on Saturday, bringing the death toll to 15.

The dead were identified as Tinni Akhtar, 6, Mizanur Rahman, 45, Narayan Chandra, 65, Rashida Begum, 50, Nasima Begum, 45, Wahida Begum, 30, of Patuakhali and Joynal Abedin, 35, of Narayanganj.

Coast Guard and Fire Sendee members found the bodies inside ML Shathil after the rescue operation resumed around 6:00am, said Sayemuzzaman, acting upazila nirbahi officer of Golachipa.

Of some 60 passengers aboard the launch, bodies of eight were recovered on Saturday night.

The sunken launch was salvaged around 9:00 pm last night. At least 25 passengers were still missing.

Police yesterday traced the identity of another passenger, Renu Akhtar, 25, whose body was found on Saturday.

Meanwhile, a five-member committee, headed by BIWTA Director Md Hossain, has been formed to find out the reason behind the mishap.

The committee has been asked to submit its findings to the shipping ministry within seven days, Patuakhali Port Officer Badrul Alam told The Daily Star.

Local administration has started distributing Tk 20,000 to the family of each of the victims for funeral expenses, said Amitav Sarkar, deputy commissioner of Patuakhali.

The launch sank around 2:30pm at Kalagasia while it was going to Patuakhali from Golachipa upazila.