Rescue Underway After Padma Tragedy

A large-scale rescue operation is underway in the Padma River at Daulatdia ferry terminal in Rajbari, where a passenger bus sank earlier, leaving dozens of passengers feared missing. Recovery teams have been working through the night to retrieve the submerged vehicle using specialised equipment, while emergency services remain on high alert.

The recovery operation began late on Wednesday, 25 March, at around 11:00 pm, when the salvage vessel Hamza was deployed to the scene. With the assistance of a crane, rescuers have managed to raise the front portion of the bus above the water level. However, the vehicle remains largely submerged, and efforts are ongoing to fully retrieve it from the riverbed.

According to rescue officials, the bus door has been found broken, and personal belongings have been observed floating in the water, including school bags, shoes, sandals, and vanity bags. These distressing findings underscore the severity of the incident and the urgency of the ongoing search and recovery operations. Three ambulances have been stationed at the site in preparation for any survivors or casualties that may be recovered.

The tragic incident occurred earlier on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 4:45 pm, when a passenger bus belonging to the Sohag Paribahan service, travelling from Kushtia, plunged into the Padma River from a pontoon at the Daulatdia ferry ghat. The bus was reportedly carrying between 45 and 50 passengers at the time of the accident.

Seven passengers were able to swim to safety immediately following the accident, but many others remain unaccounted for. Initial estimates suggest that around 40 passengers are still missing, though authorities have yet to confirm the final casualty figures.

Rajbari Civil Surgeon Dr SM Masud confirmed that the bodies of two women have so far been recovered from the river. The deceased have been taken to the Goalanda Upazila Health Complex for further procedures.

Fire service personnel are heavily engaged in the rescue effort. According to Md Belal Uddin, Commander of the Faridpur Fire Service, the operation includes the deployment of two divers, two assistant divers, and a five-member support team. Their efforts are focused on locating survivors and retrieving the submerged bus.

Eyewitnesses, however, have raised concerns regarding the response time of the rescue teams. Some allege that there were delays in the arrival of the salvage vessel and that fire service divers began their operations nearly an hour after the incident was reported. These claims have added to public frustration amid the unfolding tragedy.

One of the survivors, Abdul Azizul, shared his account of the incident. He stated that he boarded the bus from Gandhimara in Kalukhali upazila of Rajbari. Although he managed to swim to safety after the accident, he remains deeply distressed as his wife and young child are still missing.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that only a small number of passengers were able to escape the sinking bus by swimming to shore. The majority are believed to have been trapped inside the vehicle as it rapidly sank into the river, complicating rescue efforts.

Key Details of the Incident

As rescue operations continue, authorities are working tirelessly to locate the missing passengers and recover the submerged vehicle. The incident has once again highlighted concerns about safety standards at ferry terminals and the need for stricter enforcement to prevent such tragic accidents in the future.