'35 dead' in Bangladesh capsize

19/12/2010| IslamWeb

Rescue officials say at least 35 people have drowned after a boat capsized in northeastern Bangladesh, the AP news agency has reported.

Officials say the boat capsized late on Saturday on the River Surma, about 175km northeast of the capital Dhaka.

Matiur Rahman, a rescue official at the scene, said 35 bodies have been recovered so far. Most of the dead are women and children, according to Dhaka's Prothom Alo newspaper.

The private television station NTV has reported that the boat sank after hitting a sand-laden cargo vessel.

Rescuers have been sent to the remote location to look for survivors.

PHOTO CAPTION

Locals look at the overturned ferry by the bank of the river Tetulia, in Bhola district, Bangladesh.

Al-Jazeera