An overloaded ferry carrying over 100 people capsized Sunday after being hit by a cargo trawler in Padma river in Bangladesh, media reports said adding that rescuers had recovered at least 37 bodies, including that of women and children.
The ferry - MV Mostofa - was on its way to Daulatdia village -- a brothel village -- from Paturia area, 40 km from Dhaka. But just 15 minutes after the ferry set sail, it was hit by the cargo trawler, bdnews24.com quoted the police as saying.
A Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) tugboat, which located the capsized vessel, was trying to pull it upright, police said.
The rescuers fished out 37 bodies, including those of six children and eight women, until 7 p.m., a fire service official said.
Villagers started rescuing the people immediately after the accident with the help of boats and trawlers.
"The rescue operation is still ongoing. We have identified the location of the ferry and are trying to pull it up," a senior police officer was quoted as saying.
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Three people were rescued and sent to hospital after the ferry capsized around Sunday noon, the report added. Some other reports said a number of ferry passengers swam to the shore and in rescue vessels.
Though the police could not confirm the exact number of people on board, there were differing media reports about the number of people travelling in the ferry.
Paturia dock supervisor Jewel Rana said more than 100 passengers were crossing the river in the ferry, while police claimed that the ferry had about 70-80 passengers and most of them had been rescued, bdnews24.com reported.
A Daily Star report earlier said that over 200 passengers were on board.