At least 81 people were killed and more than 78 still remained missing as a passenger launch capsized with 300 to 400 passengers on board in the Buriganga river at suburban Paglabazar Saturday night.

So far 81 bodies have been recovered and the divers are looking for more bodies in the sunken vessel, the official news agency of Bangladesh BSS reported Sunday.

Chairman of the state-run Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority Shimul Biswas was quoted as saying that more bodies might be trapped in the sunk ferry while rescue workers have brought the vessel near the shore from the deep water with the help of the salvage ship Hamza.

The launch was sailing to southern Chandpur from Dhaka when it got caught in a sudden tropical storm which turned turtle and drowned the vessel immediately at midnight, survivors said.

They said most upper deck and cabin passengers jumped in the river but those in the lower deck of the launch were trapped.

Police rushed to the spot and started rescue operation along with fire service while navy divers joined them later to recover the bodies.

President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia expressed their profound shock at the loss of lives in the tragic launch accident and conveyed sympathy to the members of the bereaved families.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2005)