FROM MAWA GHAT: Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan on Wednesday said some 19 bodies have been recovered so far and eight of them were handed over to their relatives.
Minister made the disclosure in a press briefing at Mawa Rest House around 7:15pm.
He also said that they have been using ladder scanner search to locate the position of the drowned launch.
Shahjahan Khan also said another rescuing ship Kandari-2 will reach at Mawa Ghat within one or two hours and start the salvaging task.
He further said the ship is equipped with modern instruments and with their help it would be possible to extend the search even into 15 feet into the sand of the river basin.
Minister added that he would summon a highly equipped ship Jarip-10 if Kandari-2 fails in the rescue task.
“I have ordered the deputy commissioners of Chandpur, Madaripur, Bhola, Shariatpur and Barisal districts to stay alert and send the bodies, if found any, to Mawa,” he added.
However, 128 people are still missing according to the administration’s list while the rubble of the sunken launch is yet to be found.
Earlier on Monday, bodies of two unidentified women were found near the spot after the launch sunken.
The launch, Pinak-6, was carrying more than 200 passengers capsized near Mawa Ghat in Lohajang upazila of Munshiganj district on Monday morning.
BIWTA has charged six people including the owner of the passenger ferry, its pilot and helmsman with causing death by negligence after the vessel sank.
BDST: 2125 HRS, AUG 06, 2014
