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Over 800 people were feared drowned as a ferry with over 1000 passengers sank in the river Meghna in southern Bangladesh late Tuesday night, police said Wednesday.
Police said the three-story ferry Nasreen-2, while going to southern coastal Barguna district, sank due to overcrowding at about zero hours.
No more than 150- 200 passengers could come out of the ferry in two hours after the incident, witnesses said.
Another ferry Koko of the same route, which was due to go to Barguna Tuesday night, suddenly cancelled its schedule. The passengers of the Koko then boarded the Nasreen-2, thus making overcrowded.
The ferry sank while it was caught in strong current and taking turn at a confluence, only 600 yards from the terminal after it sailed for Barguna, police quoted passengers who swam to safety assaying.
Only the passengers on the roof and deck could jump out of the ferry, police said.
The government has launched rescue operation. details were not available immediately.
(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2003)
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