The cruise ship ‘MV, Abigail 10 Launch’ took off from Dhaka, the capital of our neighboring Bangladesh, last night. The three-story Sukanda River is said to have carried more than 800 people.
The ship sailed across the Sukanda River in the south of the country at 3:00 a.m. yesterday. Then the ship’s engine room suddenly caught fire. As the fire spread, the passengers on board jumped into the river screaming. Rescue crews rushed to the scene.
After a three-hour struggle, firefighters brought the blaze under control. Rescuers recovered the bodies of 40 people who had died. Authorities say nine of them drowned. The bodies of the victims have been sent to hospital for autopsy.
And more than 150 were rescued alive with burns. Of these, 72 are being treated in hospitals. It is feared that the death toll could rise further as the condition of some is worrying.
Investigation
Meanwhile the search for the magical other traveler continues. The Bangladesh government has set up a seven-member panel to look into the incident. It has been directed to complete its inquiry within the next three days and submit a detailed report. The investigation has revealed that the ship was carrying more passengers than its capacity.
.