At least 10 women and children were killed and three others injured critically when a launch hit a motorboat in river Titas under Nabinagar upazila of the district yesterday noon.
Witnesses and police said the launch, ML Nusrat, was going to Bhairabnagar from Nabinagar upazila and struck the mechanised passenger boat coming from the opposite direction near Khajanagar village, about three kilometres off the upazila headquarters, around 12:00pm.
They said the accident occurred when the launch and motorboat were trying to cross each other at Khajanagar point where the width of the river happens to be narrower. Following the accident, the motorboat carrying 40 to 45 passengers capsized.
Nearby people, fishermen and police recovered 10 bodies from the river and rescued three others in a critical condition.
Eight of the deceased were identified as Eti Akter, 14, Josna Begum, 25, Rina Begum, 10, Nasima Begum, 30, Rojina Akter, 25, one-and-a-half-year old Ayesha, one year old Tahmina and eight-month old Tanjim. Identity of another woman aged around 40 and a four-month old baby could not be known.
Injured Rumana Begum, 40, Sohana Khatun, 45, and Tania Akter, 10, were admitted to Nabinagar Upazila Health Complex.
However, most of the motorboat passengers managed to swim ashore after the accident. They blamed the accident on the careless plying of the launch and motorboat.
While contacted, Md. Nehaj Uddin, the officer-in-charge of Nabinagar Thana, said the staff of the launch managed to escape the scene. A case was filed with Nabinagar police in this connection, he added.
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