SUZIT KUMAR DAS, from Rajbari

At least 18 bodies were recovered early today after a bus fell into the Padma from the pontoon of Daulatdia ferry terminal in Rajbari yesterday afternoon.

The deceased include three children and 11 women, said Dewan Sohel Rana, deputy assistant director of Rajbari Fire Service.

Rescuers recovered 14 bodies from the Souhardo Paribahan bus after BIWTA salvage vessel Hamza pulled it out from the riverbed 80 feet below around midnight, more than six and a half hours after the tragedy. Two other bodies were found under water.

Two other women were found dead earlier. Rehena Begum, 60, and Marjina Begum, 55, were dead on arrival at Daulatdia Upazila Health Complex, the facility’s Resident Medical Officer Md Shariful Islam said.

According to police and local sources, 11 passengers managed to swim to safety.

SEE PAGE 2 COL 1