Associated Press

Dhaka, May 23:

A river ferry carrying about 250 passengers capsized today during a tropical storm in southeastern Bangladesh and many were feared dead, police said. Three other ferries also sank, although those on board were believed safe. Many of the passengers on the capsized double-deck ferry were asleep when the accident occurred and were believed to be trapped inside, said Mohammad Dulal Miah, a police officer at the scene. Police said eight bodies had been recovered. Some injured passengers were rescued from inside the vessel and about 50 others were able to swim ashore, police said. "Even though the ferry sank close to shore, the river is turbulent here and it is hampering the rescue work," Miah said. The three other ferries all went down during the storm today, private TV station ATN Bangla reported.