The death toll from the fire that broke out in a Barguna-bound launch carrying some 800 passengers rose to 39, according to the police and fire service. The incident took place at around 3:00am on Friday.
Around 75 people sustaining burn injuries were admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital and 15 others in Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital in Barishal. Many are still missing. Deputy commissioner, Johar Ali, and senior police officials are supervising the rescue work.
Fire ripped through the Barguna-bound launch 'Avijan-10' on Friday at around 3:00am.The charred launch was later anchored to the Diakul village area, adjacent to the bank of Sugandha river. People looks into the charred launch in search of their loved onesEverything in the launch was reduced to ashes by the fire. Everything in the launch was reduced to ashes by the fire. Rescue operation is underway. People throng the river bank in search of their missing relatives. Around 75 people sustaining burn injuries were admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. Md Nasirullah, an Imam of a mosque in Patharghata of Barguna, breaks down in tears while showing the photograph of his two-year-old daughter. Divers of coast guard conduct their rescue operations in the river to recover the missing bodies.