DHAKA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people died after a picnic boat capsized in a tributary of the mighty Padma river in Bangladesh's Munshiganj district on Saturday night, about 30 km away from capital Dhaka.
Rafi Al Faruk, a duty officer of the fire service and civil defense headquarters, told Xinhua that "the bodies of three women, three children and two men have so far been retrieved with the help of locals."
According to the official, the boat carrying about 46 people capsized following a collision with a sand-laden vessel in the river at around 8:00 p.m. local time on Saturday when the victims were returning home after a daylong picnic on the vessel.
The official said most of the passengers were able to swim ashore after the incident as the boat sank close to the river bank and at least four people have been rescued alive from the tragic incident. ■