Dhaka (Web Desk): At least 37 people were killed when an overcrowded night ferry caught fire in Bangladesh on Friday, police said.
“We have recovered 37 bodies. The death toll may rise. Most died from the fire and a few by drowning after many people jumped into the river near Jhalokathi, 250 kilometres (160 miles) south of Dhaka,” local police chief told the media.
“The blaze was believed to have originated in the engine room and ripped through the ferry,” the official maintained.
Witnesses said the fire originated at around 3:00 am (2100 GMT) and quickly spread.
“We were sleeping on a mat on the ground floor deck. All the passengers were sleeping. My nine-year-old grandson, Nayeem, was with me, he jumped into the river. I don’t know what happened to him,” said an elderly grandmother.
Other survivors said they saw a small fire in the engine room as soon as the packed ferry set off from the Sadarghat river station in Dhaka at 9:00 pm on Thursday.