Death toll from sinking of Bangladeshi ferry rises to 46

May 15, 2008, 8:31 GMT

Dhaka - The death toll from the sinking of a storm-battered ferry in central Bangladesh climbed to 46 when four more bodies were pulled from the swirling water overnight, officials and survivors said on Thursday.

Forty-six bodies were salvaged from the Ghorautra river since the rescue and search operation was launched early Tuesday, said assistant police commissioner Asad uz Zaman.

Fire Department divers said chances of finding any more survivors were slim after bodies of four children popped up in the river late Wednesday.

Earlier reports said a river ferry with an estimated 200 farm workers on board began sinking after it was caught in a tropical whirlwind.

Some 50 passengers went missing in the mishap which occurred near the town of Kishoreganj, 230 kilometres east of the capital Dhaka.

Many passengers managed to swim to shore on their own while several other were picked up by passing boatmen, survivor Sohrab Hussain said.

Zaman said police rescuers backed by local civilian volunteers plucked the bodies of the victims from the water. Hospital sources said the death toll from the ferry tragedy could rise further.

'Residents of a nearby village rushed in to help with rescue operations,' Zaman said.

Rescuers said a search operation was going on amid fears that many bodies were washed away by the river current.

A probe team has blamed the ferry disaster on alleged faulty design of the vessel, which used the hull of an old fishing trawler.