Boat Capsizes In Karatoya River In Bangladesh; 23 Dead, Several Missing

New Delhi: At least 23 people died and several others went missing after a boat capsized in Karatoya river in Bangladesh on Sunday.

A local police official, Shafiqul Islam, told the news agency AFP that the 23 bodies have been recovered and firefighters and divers are still searching for more bodies.

The bodies recovered so far included women and children, said Jahurul Islam, district administrator of northern Panchagarh, where the accident took place. “The rescue operation for those missing is underway,” he said.

According to the report, Islam said although the exact number of people missing is yet to be ascertained, passengers said that more than 70 people had been on board.

As per reports, the boat was packed with pilgrims who were on their way to a centuries-old temple, when the vessel suddenly tipped over and sank in the middle of the Karatoya river near the town of Boda in northern Bangladesh.