At least 21 people were killed after a boat carrying over 100 passengers capsized in Bangladesh's Titas River following a head-on collision with a sand-laden vessel, which got hit by another ship from behind, authorities said on Saturday.
A passenger, Ali Akhter Rizvi, told IANS that the boat left the Champaknagar ghat of Vijaynagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district at around 4.30 p.m. on Friday evening. It was heading to Anandabazar ghat of Sadar upazila.
Also Read | Ex-Afghan minister now delivers food on a bicycle in Germany
The collision took place in the Laisca Beel area after which the boat overturned and sank, Rizvi added.
Hayat Ud Daula Khan, the Deputy Commissioner of Brahmanbaria, confirmed the toll and added that the families of those who died were being paid 20,000 taka each and the injured have been hospitalised.
Also Read | Taliban admit women not safe in the presence of their militants
Authorities also said that many were still missing, but did not give an exact figure.
Meanwhie, several rescue teams and divers from the fire service are operations to locate the missing persons.
